Swope Soccer Village (Children’s Mercy Training Center)
Overview
Swope Soccer Village, officially the Children’s Mercy Training Center at Swope Soccer Village, is a major soccer complex located at 6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, Missouri in Swope Park. The facility serves as the training home for Sporting Kansas City and its academy.
Ownership & Operations
Owner: City of Kansas City, Missouri Operator: Sporting Kansas City
The site was formerly the practice field for the Kansas City Chiefs before Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972. Sporting Kansas City broke ground on training facilities in 2007, with a second phase in 2008. A major $13.4M expansion was completed in 2014-2015, including a stadium opening in November 2013.
Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total fields | 9 |
| Natural grass (stadium) | 1 |
| Natural grass (practice) | 2 |
| Artificial turf | 6 |
| Stadium capacity | 3,557 (bleachers) |
| Parking | 1,000+ spaces (expanded 2022) |
Tenant Clubs
- Sporting Kansas City — first team training
- sporting-kc-academy — MLS Next academy teams
- Sporting Kansas City II (MLS Next Pro) — 2016-17, 2022-present
Former tenants:
- FC Kansas City (NWSL, 2015-2017 — folded)
- Kaw Valley FC (USL2, 2021)
Economics
- Construction/expansion cost: $13.4M+ (2007-2015) (HIGH)
- City-owned, Sporting KC-operated — exact lease terms unknown
- Hosted Big 12 women’s soccer tournaments (2013-2019), NCAA championship matches, Missouri high school state finals
Investment Thesis
Not an acquisition target — city-owned and Sporting KC-operated. Represents the competitive facility standard in Kansas City that any independent club must compete against.