Add Sporting Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Park to Your Stadium Wishlist

Photo credit: Sporting Kansas City.

This week, Daily Travel Source is featuring the electric Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. We caught up with Kurt Austin, Senior Director, Communications, Sporting Kansas City, to learn about what makes the stadium a must-visit destination for travelers and soccer fans.

Children’s Mercy Park has become an iconic soccer stadium in the U.S. What makes it a must-visit destination for both die-hard Sporting Kansas City fans and first-time visitors?

Kansas City has earned recognition as the Soccer Capital of America with world-class venues, championship-winning teams and a history of attracting the sport’s top events. Children’s Mercy Park has a proud history of hosting major matches including the MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup as well as U.S. Open Cup Finals and NCAA College Cups in addition to Concacaf Gold Cup and Copa America. Since Children’s Mercy Park opened in June 2011, the state-of-the-art stadium has hosted the most U.S. Men’s National Team matches of any venue.

Sporting Kansas City strives to deliver an incredible fan experience on gamedays from the moment guests arrive – with free parking and complimentary shuttles available – until the confetti flies to cue the postgame celebrations. The club has invested more than $40 million since the stadium opened, including new videoboards, canopy roof, LED lighting and field heating. The stadium’s next major project is a modernization of the Mazuma Plaza outdoor space -- highlighted by the introduction of a stage and videoboard – ahead of FIFA World Cup 26.

Beyond the matchday experience, what unique features or behind-the-scenes experiences can guests enjoy at the stadium?

Sporting Kansas City fans can enjoy unique behind-the-scenes experiences at Children’s Mercy Park on gamedays. Season Ticket Members and Supporters’ Stand ticket holders have access to the Budweiser Brew House, where players sign autographs and pose for photos on arrival to the stadium and where the team’s head coach raises a toast after victories. In addition, “Beer Corner” has become a club tradition with former players serving drinks outside the Budweiser Brew House prior to kickoff for select matches.

Guests with tickets to the UMB Field Club not only have access to an all-inclusive indoor premium space but also get access to one-of-a-kind interactions with players and coaches. Sporting Kansas City players walk through the UMB Field Club on their way to the field for the pregame festivities and often return to the UMB Field Club after the match to mingle with friends and family. The space also provides direct viewing of the team’s postgame press conference and is home to “The Boot Room,” a high-end speakeasy with a private bar featuring top-shelf spirits.

Sporting Kansas City is known for its passionate supporters. Can you share what makes the game-day atmosphere at Children’s Mercy Park so special?

ESPN has recognized Sporting Kansas City as the loudest supporters section in Major League Soccer and the Kansas City Cauldron is at the heart of the noise pulsating from the north end of Children’s Mercy Park on gamedays. The group hosts pregame tailgates – offering free drinks for members – and organizes to create tifos that are unfurled at the end of the national anthem. The Supporters’ Stand at Children’s Mercy Park is designed so that the first row of seats are at field level just five yards from the touchline to get fans as close to the action as possible. In addition, the Supporters’ Stand wraps around to the east side of the field to allow fans with the cheapest ticket in the stadium the opportunity to sit front row – one section from midfield – with access to the Budweiser Brew House included.

Furthermore, the Sporting U Pass offers $15 Supporters’ Stand tickets for students on college campuses across the region and the club’s First Game On Us initiative provides up to two free tickets – in the Supporters’ Stand or South Stand -- for fans to experience their first Major League Soccer match at Children’s Mercy Park.

Food is such a big part of any stadium visit. What culinary highlights or local flavors should fans and visitors look forward to at Children’s Mercy Park?

Sporting Kansas City is unique in the world of professional sports in that the team fully controls its own food and beverage operations at Children’s Mercy Park, as opposed to hiring an outside vendor to fulfill this essential service in stadium for games and events. The club prides itself on offering a wide range of menu options that evolve year over year both on the concourse and in club spaces throughout Children’s Mercy Park. Fans can enjoy a taste of Kansas City’s legendary barbecue at the American Royal stand, featuring pulled pork, smoked turkey, brisket nachos and a pit master platter. The Michelob Ultra Deck in the southwest corner of the stadium is also a popular destination for fans to purchase tickets that come with all-you-can-eat stadium fare – including nachos, hot dogs and chicken wings – as well as all-inclusive day-fresh beer from Michelob Ultra.

The stadium also hosts events beyond soccer. What other experiences — concerts, community events, tours — should travelers consider when planning a visit?

Children’s Mercy Park hosts numerous private and public events in addition to Sporting Kansas City home matches. Each year, Sporting Kansas City brings together players and fans for an end-of-season celebration known as Pitch Black at Children’s Mercy Park and the team’s charitable foundation, The Victory Project, also hosts its largest fundraiser, The Victory Gala, inside the stadium to raise money for supporting children in the local community.

Children’s Mercy Park has a history of hosting college football, most recently with the University of Kansas playing a pair of games at the venue in 2024 in addition to a regional rivalry match-up between NCAA Division II powers Northwest Missouri State University and Pittsburg State University coming up this November. International soccer events are often held at Children’s Mercy Park as well. Last year, Sporting Kansas City’s stadium was part of the prestigious Copa America for the first time while also holding the distinction as the only venue to host the U.S. Men’s National Team and U.S. Men’s Olympic Team in 2024. Next year, Children’s Mercy Park will serve as a Venue-Specific Training Site for the six World Cup matches to be played in Kansas City in June and July while the team’s training facility nearby is eligible to be selected as a Team Base Camp for the tournament.