CPKC Stadium Becomes First LEED Gold Certified Stadium in Missouri

KANSAS CITY (Nov. 8, 2024) — The Kansas City Current announced today that CPKC Stadium has earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Gold certification, becoming the first LEED Gold certified stadium in the state of Missouri.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED certification is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.

“We are thrilled to earn LEED Gold certification for CPKC Stadium following countless hours of hard work and dedication," said Current co-owners Angie and Chris Long. “Sustainability has been a passionate part of our vision around CPKC Stadium from the beginning.”

As the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional team, CPKC Stadium will also be the first LEED-certified professional female sports stadium and the first LEED Gold stadium in Missouri.

CPKC Stadium achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow companies to operate more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to work and play.

LEED buildings and communities save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. By certifying projects to LEED, companies, organizations, and governments can contribute to a better standard of living for everyone.

“CPKC Stadium’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. CPKC Stadium is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”

The stadium’s design was created to incorporate healthy building principles. Through an integrative process engaging design and construction teams, building ownership and end users, the project team used a systems approach to identify synergies and strategies that would contribute to a healthy, high-performance facility.

Highlights of CPKC’s environmental performance include:

• 24% energy cost savings reduction from a baseline building.
• Potable water savings of 1,506,434 gallons annually - the equivalent of more than two Olympic-size pools every year.
• More than 30% of the total site area is dedicated to vegetated open space.
• 14% of the stadium’s total energy consumption is generated from on-site solar panels which avoids the burning of 38 tons of coal annually.
• Stadium site was selected for its access to public transportation and the Riverfront Heritage trail to vastly reduce the number of single-user car transportation to the site.

CPKC Stadium is also a zero-waste venue. All drinkware across CPKC Stadium is reusable or recyclable, and no single-use plastic bottles or cups are served inside the stadium.

The Current have clinched the No. 4 seed in the 2024 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel and will face the No. 5 seed North Carolina Courage Saturday, Nov. 9 at CPKC Stadium. Kansas City’s quarterfinal match kicks off at 11 a.m. CT tomorrow and will broadcast nationally on CBS and stream on Paramount+. The match will mark the club’s first-ever home playoff match and the Current’s first-ever postseason match at CPKC Stadium.

The club has begun selling tickets to the general public for the Current’s historic quarterfinal match. The historic first season at CPKC Stadium has seen the team be the first in the NWSL to sell out every home regular season game this year, a trend that is expected to continue through the 2024 playoffs.

Tickets are available for purchase on KansasCityCurrent.com or via the KC Current App. Season Ticket Members and  Current Club Members early-access window is open to purchase quarterfinal tickets as well as the potential semifinal match at CPKC Stadium, pending quarterfinal results.