OFFICIAL: Port Authority Riverfront Project

[beautyfromashes]

Their attendance will double.

NWSL is at a price point where I feel comfortable getting a season ticket. Something I can go to if I have time but don’t feel forced to go to do to how much I spent. Very easy to get to unlike the current stadiums.

I might too. I was honestly going to go to a few games this year but it's so far out there and they lost so many games to start to year. I assume this will be open in 2023?

[earthling]

Scheduled to open in 2024, KC NWSL's facility is thought to be the first in the world built specifically for a top-division women's team. The stadium’s design also includes a restaurant and sports bar at its entrance, plus a bar and fan gathering area to the north, facing the river.
...
"The parcels referenced will contain 2,000 parking spaces for stadium and park event use but remain active development parcels with the plan being to continue the dense and walkable development of the riverfront," he said in an email Tuesday. "As development occurs, parking added to the riverfront will be multiuse. Additionally, we will be working to maximize the development of on-street parking."
...
Although KC NWSL will be the stadium's primary user, Stephens said the facility is being designed from the ground up as a dynamic, year-round venue for events and celebrations "well beyond sport." These could include high school and college championship games, concerts and international tournaments, team co-owner Angie Long said at the news conference.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/ ... occer.html

[AlkaliAxel]

I’m gonna preface this take by saying I could be totally wrong and I’m not the expert on construction costs/stadiums…but if it’s only is costing $70 mil to build an 11,000 seat stadium…how the hell are people saying it would be “$1.5 bil” for a new 35,000 seat Royals stadium?

I understand there’s a lot more inside an MLB stadium…but sheesh is there more than 20x the amount? How do we get to well over a billion if soccer is only $70 mil?

[shinatoo]

I’m gonna preface this take by saying I could be totally wrong and I’m not the expert on construction costs/stadiums…but if it’s only is costing $70 mil to build an 11,000 seat stadium…how the hell are people saying it would be “$1.5 bil” for a new 35,000 seat Royals stadium?

I understand there’s a lot more inside an MLB stadium…but sheesh is there more than 20x the amount? How do we get to well over a billion if soccer is only $70 mil?

The more you go up the more expensive it gets.

[KCPowercat]

F&B at entrance and facing river will be open year round

Very nice.

[AlkaliAxel]

People are going to go to games and love the experience of it all. I think it's going to make moving the Royals downtown a much easier sell to people.

[mister816]

What's F&B?

[normalthings]

Food and beverage

[WoodDraw]

What's F&B?

Food and beverage

[normalthings]

I wonder if State and NCAA Championships could be hosted in KC in the future.

[WoodDraw]

I wonder if State and NCAA Championships could be hosted in KC in the future.

They mentioned youth events multiple times. I have no knowledge of state soccer or ncaa, but I assume both national teams would find it an attractive option for the youth teams given our training infrastructure.

[WoodDraw]

I’m gonna preface this take by saying I could be totally wrong and I’m not the expert on construction costs/stadiums…but if it’s only is costing $70 mil to build an 11,000 seat stadium…how the hell are people saying it would be “$1.5 bil” for a new 35,000 seat Royals stadium?

I understand there’s a lot more inside an MLB stadium…but sheesh is there more than 20x the amount? How do we get to well over a billion if soccer is only $70 mil?

You’re talking a different world with the amenities required for a mlb stadium and building decks on top of decks.

That’s why I was skeptical earlier about it being expandable which turned out to be right. To keep it in perspective, when Mizzou redid their south end zone it cost about $100 million.

To build baseball you’re looking at around a billion for a minimal viable stadium.

[DColeKC]

Biggest budget difference between this stadium and a new MLB stadium isn’t even the size, it’s the difference in technology and amenities. While I love this stadium, it’s about as barebones as you can get while still having a very nice facility. You start adding in the club level amenities and massive tech required for baseball and the price skyrockets.

This stadium design, as simple as it is balloons to 350+ million if it were attempting a 45,000 capacity figure.

[KCPowercat]

Let's not forget parking and how much that increases any project cost

[alejandro46]

Sporting park had no structured parking and has some suites and premium lounges was $200m in 2017. Seats 18467.

[dukuboy1]

really like the project and the buzz it is getting Nationally as the first women's sport specific stadium. Really helps builds KC's overall brand, not just it's soccer cache.

I also love the idea of having it be a smaller venue seating around 11K to give it the best chance to be sold out all the time. That will create a great atmosphere and allow them to expand as needed so that they never over build and end up playing in an empty stadium during down years, etc.

The Youngs are very smart business people and when they say they have researched the details and have a plan for sustained success it is not lip service. These are not the "good old boys" network of owners in other professional sports. Will be interesting to see how their success will drive development down town and influence Royals ownership as well as business leaders to continue to invest in downtown and it's surrounding neighborhoods. Great project, vision, and stewardship to get it done. Very exciting

[beautyfromashes]

The Youngs are very smart business people and when they say they have researched the details and have a plan for sustained success it is not lip service. These are not the "good old boys" network of owners in other professional sports. Will be interesting to see how their success will drive development down town and influence Royals ownership as well as business leaders to continue to invest in downtown and it's surrounding neighborhoods. Great project, vision, and stewardship to get it done. Very exciting

At some point, you have to start thinking about an ownership change for Sporting KC. Illig is 70 years old. I don't know if he has kids that want to take over ownership, but the Youngs are kind of building a resume here with the woman's team. Perhaps, a Sporting/Woman's merger could be in the future?

[kboish]

Cliff Illig’s son Mike has taken on an active role representing their family as the owners of SKC for some time.

[AlkaliAxel]

Cliff Illig might be the biggest catfish I’ve ever seen. He’s simultaneously one of the biggest boosters of downtown with his mouth more than almost anyone, and then is also one of the biggest boosters of sprawl and suburbanism with his wallet and business. Just an absolute catfish.

[normalthings]

I also love the idea of having it be a smaller venue seating around 11K to give it the best chance to be sold out all the time. That will create a great atmosphere and allow them to expand as needed so that they never over build and end up playing in an empty stadium during down years, etc.

Then you will love my 25,000 seat Royals Stadium concept (I forget the exact number I was pushing).