The Kansas City Current locks down numerous sponsorships ahead of brand new stadium opening

The GIST: Last October, Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway (CPKC) became the naming sponsor for the KC Current’s new stadium, the first built solely for a women’s pro sports team. Since then, the NWSL club has been locking down numerous local and big-name sponsorships ahead of the venue’s opening this March. Currently obsessed.

Stadium partners: Once CPKC confirmed its naming deal, other major sponsors dribbled in. Samsung will power the scoreboard as the team’s official display partner, while Good Energy Solutions installed solar panels in October, making CPKC a solar leader among U.S. sports venues. In fact, the Current hopes to boast one of the world’s few stadiums with an LEED Gold Certification.

Food and drink partners: The Current dropped social media hints about the stadium’s first restaurant partner, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, before issuing an official announcement in October. It continued to announce sponsors on a weekly basis, with Ruby Jean’s Juicery joining the club most recently.

• The CPKC restaurant partners are notably local, which benefits Kansas City’s economy and public health. The local foodie vibe also extends to the stadium’s new beverage partnerships with Martin City Brewing and Boulevard Brewing Co. But that’s no surprise: Beer companies have been early adopters of women’s sports sponsorships. Hoppin’ to it.

The takeaway: By building CPKC Stadium, the KC Current took a calculated risk to prove that by creating (literal) infrastructure, it can give players a place to play and sponsors a way to get involved in women’s sports. CPKC isn’t just predicting the future for women’s soccer — it’s paving the way for a fandom that’s health-conscious and eco-minded. If you could gaze into the future…