KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Canadian Pacific Kansas City has signed a 10-year naming-rights agreement for the stadium currently under construction for the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League, which the team says is the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional sports team.
CPKC Stadium, under construction at Berkley Riverfront Park, is a privately funded $117 million facility that will seat 11,500. It is expected to open in 2024.
“We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Kansas City Current and support this history-making project here in the city that is at the heart of our North American rail network,” CPKC CEO Keith Creel said in the Thursday press release announcing the naming-rights deal. “CPKC has been a longtime champion of women’s sports and of investing in our communities. This stadium and this partnership with the Current will build on that legacy as together we write a new chapter here in Kansas City.” The railroad’s involvement in women’s sports includes title sponsorship of the Canadian Women’s Open golf tournament by Canadian Pacific and now CPKC since 2013.
The naming-rights agreement also includes the outdoor gathering space outside the stadium, to be known as CPKC Plaza.
“As we embarked on finding the perfect naming rights partner, it was always about finding an organization where our values and vision align. CPKC is that partner,” said Current co-founders and owners Angie and Chris Long. “Our organizations share a commitment to strive for excellence, invest heavily in our communities and raise the bar with global influence. We are extremely excited to work with CPKC on this historic agreement and know our partnership will create long-standing positive impact.”
“With a knickknack paddy-wack, give the dog a bone…” Comes to mind here, Congratulations nondescript women’s soccer team, you got a bone from the flush with cash CPkc. Be nice to know how much they paid for 10 years of “WTHIT” advertising…
Hmmm. Had no idea North West Short Line had a football club.
In other news, I’m all for good PR. But CPKC is still digesting a merger. Mergers as a rule are expensive. A new, fully cleared tunnel under the Detroit River will be expensive too.
My first thought, too. Quality outfit…
“CPKC” has about as much meaning to the public as “CSX” or “BNSF”.
A suggestion at a different name, which describes the unique characteristic of this new company: North American Railway.
Reporting marks: NA. Easy to remember or write, and descriptive.
Like most people today, they will Google it and find out.
I wonder how many people will actually know what CPKC stands for when they see that on the stadium? They’ll probably think it was KFC or some new chicken fast food chain.
On Google Earth, it looks like there are tracks near there. Do CPKC trains pass through there?