Kansas City Current venue price tag whopping

Article posted by Coliseum, May 24^th, 2022

Image: KC WOSO & Generator Studio

The price tag for building that new women’s pro soccer stadium is going up – and by a lot.

The ‘Fox4’ stated that the Kansas City Current team ownership is now asking for Missouri (US) tax incentives. Originally, franchise owners said they would privately pay for the costs in their entirety. Current leaders confirmed that the stadium bill is going up by nearly $50 million – from roughly $70 million to approximately $117 million.

Kansas City Current is an American professional women’s soccer team based in Kansas City, Kansas (US). It began play as an expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League in 2021.

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The National Women’s Soccer League is a professional women’s soccer league at the top of the United States league system. It is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federation.

The ‘Fox4’ further stated that current team owners Chris and Angie Long say they’re seeking $6 million in support from the State.

Kansas City Fourth District Council Member Eric Bunch said he isn’t concerned that Current owners are asking for tax breaks. Bunch is sponsoring a City ordinance supporting the Current’s plan, encouraging the Missouri Development Finance Board to give them the incentives – “I think the general public, if they understood this, is the State stepping in and using State tax dollars indirectly to support a project that’s going to benefit Kansas Citians, I think they absolutely would.”

The Current plans to build that pitch on a plot of land near the Berkley Riverfront Park near Port KC. The Long Family sent a statement saying they’re still handing the biggest portion of the stadium bill.

The Long family said via email, “As we have gotten into this project, our vision for this team and our vision of what this stadium can mean for our City and for women’s sports everywhere has grown.”

Added Bunch, “I supported this project because I want to see it happen. I believe in what the end result is going to be. Its elevating women’s professional sports. It’s elevating Kansas City.”

People around town have mixed ideas about public money being earmarked for another pro sports franchise in Missouri. The 76,416-capacity Arrowhead Stadium and the 37,903-capacity Kauffman Stadium, homes of the National Football League (NFL) team Kansas City Chiefs and the Major League Baseball (MLB) team Kansas City Royals, respectively, is also taxpayer- supported, albeit from different budgetary sources.

Commented Caitlin Warren, a soccer fan from Kansas City, “I think it’s worth spending whatever the cost. I think it’s something that will bring more people and tourists to Kansas City and help the City grow.”

Stated Stephanie Dilley, a taxpayer from Independence, Missouri, “While I’m happy to pay my share, I don’t feel extracurricular things that are for entertainment or sport and leisure – I love sport, but for it to come out of my pocket, I’m not really happy with that.”

Council Member Bunch pointed out $6 million isn’t the high price it may seem, since the Royals and Chiefs would likely ask for more for their potential new homes.

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