A Kansas City committee gave the green light Tuesday to a $185 million funding package that would expand CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, from 11,500 seats to 18,000 — nearly matching the footprint of a Major League Soccer venue. Under the deal, the team itself, not city taxpayers, would be on the hook if bond payments come up short.
The City Council's Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee advanced an ordinance directing City Manager Mario Vasquez to enter into a development agreement with Current officials and developers, according to The Kansas City Star. Kansas City Current president Mukul Sharma told the committee that city support would speed up redevelopment of the riverfront, and that “being able to entertain 18,000 capacity is truly extraordinary for the growth trajectory of our club.” The full City Council could consider the plan on Thursday.
Team, Not City, Backs the Debt
The financing structure marks a departure from typical publicly funded stadium deals. The Kansas City Current — not the city — will issue the bonds and remain responsible for the project debt, with the team covering project costs if tax revenue falls short under the 30-year funding plan, per the Star's reporting. Sharma said the city would only be forced to pay shortfalls if the Current ceased to exist and its properties went into foreclosure.
Mayor Quinton Lucas praised the team for offering to cover debt costs and reduce risk to the city budget, saying, “I find the debt guarantee to be a very interesting model, which I wish more developers offered if they were coming to us.” The funding agreement requires team officials to obtain a line of credit equal to 110% of one year of debt service, and it is contingent on both a feasibility study and a guarantee that the project will not trigger a downgrade of the city's credit rating. The city and other taxing districts will continue to receive about $1 million in tax revenue generated by the stadium, with the rest of the city's funding support paid through redirected taxes.
A Non-Relocation Clause Still Up for Debate
The proposed development agreement does not currently include a non-relocation clause that would bind the Current to Kansas City for a set period. City staff said such a clause could be added once more financing details are worked out, while Sharma said the team did not believe one was necessary but would be willing to discuss it with the city. Committee member Johnathan Duncan pushed back, suggesting the city pursue the agreement anyway and arguing, “If we're going to put 30 years on the line, that should be nonnegotiable for this.”
The plan calls for the Current to pursue either a tax increment financing (TIF) redevelopment plan or a MODESA plan, both of which would create a special taxing district in the riverfront area, according to the Star. That marks a shift from an earlier version of the stadium expansion proposal, which had included city funding for a new parking garage; team officials now say the garage will be financed separately from city dollars. The current $185 million proposal also follows a broader $235 million bond and incentive outline the council approved in July, according to KCUR, showing how the financing structure has been refined over the summer.
Riverfront's Rapid Rise Since 2024
CPKC Stadium has served as the Current's home since the start of the 2024 NWSL season, when it opened as the world's first stadium built exclusively for a professional women's sports team, constructed with $117 million in private capital. The club operates the venue under a 50-year land lease with Port KC at Berkley Riverfront Park. Demand has outpaced expectations, with a string of sold-out home matches. CPKC Stadium has 11,500 seats.
Sharma told the committee the expansion “accelerates the redevelopment of the entire riverfront into a true neighborhood,” and pointed to the club's attendance streak, saying, “We continue to set attendance records.” The stadium sits at the center of a $1.4 billion riverfront renovation project that includes a mixed-use district with new housing and public recreational spaces. The broader Current Landing master plan envisions up to $800 million in private investment over a decade, including roughly 1,000 residential units, 210,000 square feet of office space and 53,000 square feet of retail. According to a Port KC RFQ dated Sep 1, 2022, the agency's redevelopment scope included land reclamation as well as residential, commercial and mixed-use development.
Financial Muscle Behind the Ask
The Current's ability to guarantee city bonds reflects its financial standing: the club reached an estimated valuation between $315 million and $325 million in early 2026 and led the NWSL with $42.9 million in annual revenue, according to Complex. The club was founded in December 2020 by financial executives Angie and Chris Long alongside Brittany Mahomes, and added Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to its ownership group in 2022.
That growth stands in sharp contrast to the fate of Kansas City's earlier NWSL franchise. FC Kansas City ceased operations after the 2017 season amid financial problems, with its roster transferring to Utah before the current ownership group re-established NWSL soccer in the city in 2021, as Hoodline detailed in its prior coverage of NWSL valuations. Kansas City's transit access to the stadium has also improved recently: the city opened its $62 million, 0.7-mile KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension in May, connecting downtown and River Market directly to Berkley Riverfront.
If the full council approves the plan, it would mark another step in Kansas City's broader ambitions for the riverfront, which city and sports officials have also cited as a centerpiece asset in their push to bid for host-city status for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup.
