What to know about the home opener

BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO, JOHNNY. THANK YOU. WELL, THE KANSAS CITY CURRENT WILL BE BACK ON THE PITCH TOMORROW, OPENING THEIR SECOND SEASON AT CPKC STADIUM. KMBC NINE JAMIE WEISS IS LIVE THERE THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JAMIE. GOOD MORNING DONNA. GOOD MORNING, KANSAS CITY FROM BEAUTIFUL CPKC STADIUM WHERE LIKE YOU SAID, DONNA, THE SEASON OPENS TOMORROW WHEN THE KANSAS CITY CURRENT TAKE ON THE PORTLAND THORNS. HERE AT HOME. 11:45 A.M. WE KNOW THAT THE STADIUM STAFF IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE THOSE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE PITCH, WHILE THE PLAYERS THEY ARE FOCUSING ON MAKING THAT FINAL STAND AND THEY’RE GETTING THOSE PRACTICES IN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY FOR TOMORROW. I HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH TEAM CAPTAIN LOLA BONTA EARLIER THIS WEEK. SHE’S CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS A TEAM THAT COULD GO ALL THE WAY, WHICH MEANS THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SEASON. I WANT US TO PLAY WELL EVERY GAME. I WANT EVERY PLAYER TO STAY HEALTHY. YOU OBVIOUSLY WANT TO WIN. I’M HOPING AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TAMIL WINS GOLDEN BOOT MVP. I HOPE OUR TEAM WINS THE SHIELD. YOU KNOW THE FULL THING WE CAN GET NOW THEY HAVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. THEY HAVE MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR. I’M HOPING WE CAN ALSO GET COACH OF THE YEAR ALL THESE AWARDS. I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TEAM TO HAVE BECAUSE I DO THINK THEY DESERVE THEM. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU PLAN TO COME OUT HERE TO CPKC STADIUM TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE SEASON OPENER. SO IT ALL GETS STARTED AT 8:45 A.M. THAT’S WHEN THE ACTIVITIES GET STARTED ON THE CPKC FRONT PLAZA. YOU’LL GET TO GET SOME FACE PAINTING DONE, MAYBE MAKE SOME SIGNS TO CHEER ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER. THERE’S A TON OF GIVEAWAYS THAT WE’LL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR. ALL THAT EXCITEMENT GETS STARTED AT 845. 945 IS WHEN THE GATES OPEN. THAT IS PRIME TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE KANSAS CITY BLUE CREW. THEY ARE THE SUPPORTERS SECTION HERE FOR THE TEAM, AS WELL AS FOLKS WHO HAVE TICKETS IN THE SUPPORTER STAND TO COME ON IN. THAT IS A SECTION THAT IS OPEN SEATING, SO THEY WANT TO COME AND CLAIM THOSE SEATS TO BE AS CLOSE TO THE PITCH AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU’VE BEEN WAITING TO GET A PLAYER AUTOGRAPH, 1015 IS THE TIME YOU WANT TO HAVE MEMORIZED, BECAUSE THE NORTHWEST CONCOURSE IS WHERE A COUPLE OF THE PLAYERS ARE GOING TO BE LOCATED TOMORROW MORNING, WHERE YOU CAN GET THOSE PLAYER AUTOGRAPHS IN BEFORE GAME TIME. AND OF COURSE, 1145 THAT IS GOING TO BE THAT FIRST KICK, THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON HERE AT CPKC STADIUM. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE RIVERFRONT LATELY, THERE’S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW. GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP HERE ON YOUR SCREEN. THE GRAND BOULEVARD BRIDGE IS CLOSED RIGHT NOW TO TRAFFIC, SO ALL DRIVERS AND RIDE SHARE COMING TO THE STADIUM ARE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE BERKELEY RIVERFRONT PARKWAY. FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO DROP OFF NEAR PORT CASEY. THAT’S GOING TO BE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE ORIGIN HOTEL. SO WE GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A TEASE EARLIER. I’M BRINGING IN THE KANSAS CITY BLUE CREW. THE PRESIDENT, KIRSTEN ROSS, AND WE ALSO NEED TO SHOW OFF THIS GORGEOUS, GLIMMERING SOCCER BALL. SO THIS IS REALLY COOL. IT WAS MADE BY A COMPANY CALLED BEYOND DIAMONDS AND THIS IS A SOCCER BALL THAT IS TRAVELING TO A COUPLE DIFFERENT STADIUMS FOR OPENING WEEKEND. KIRSTEN. AND NEXT WEEKEND TO JUST TO BRING THE HYPE. I MEAN, SEEING THIS, SEEING HOW GLIMMERING AND SHINY AND BRIGHT IT IS, WHAT’S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND JUST STARING AT THIS BECAUSE IT CAN’T HELP BUT STARE. I JUST THINK IT’S REALLY COOL HOW SO MANY COMPANIES ARE GETTING INVOLVED WITH PROMOTING STUFF WITH THE LEAGUE AND OUR TEAM AS WELL. JUST HAVING BEEN AROUND SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE LEAGUE, IT’S JUST CRAZY TO SEE HOW MUCH MORE, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT AND MEDIA IT’S GETTING COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, THOSE EARLY YEARS. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT IT. KIRSTEN, YOU AND I WERE TALKING OFF CAMERA ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE BEEN A FAN OF THIS TEAM SINCE BEFORE THEY WERE THE KC CURRENT. THEY WERE FC, KC OVER A DECADE AGO. TALK TO ME ABOUT THOSE EARLY DAYS TO HERE. WE ARE NOW GOING ON TO SEASON TWO OF OUR VERY OWN STADIUM. I PINCH MYSELF EVERY GAME DAY HERE. IT’S JUST INSANE TO ME TO SEE HOW WE’VE GONE FROM PLAYING IN A HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM TO PLAYING IN OUR OWN STADIUM, JUST SEEING HOW FAR THE ENVIRONMENT HAS COME. I MEAN, WE TRIED SO HARD IN THOSE EARLY YEARS TO KIND OF GET THINGS GOING IN THE GAMES AND JUST TO SEE IT REALLY TAKE OFF AND GET, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATED ACROSS THE STADIUM INTO ALL THE FANS HAS BEEN REALLY COOL. WELL, KIRSTEN, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO GREAT FOR JUST STAYING WITH US ALL MORNING AND BRINGING THE EXCITEMENT, BRINGING THE ENERGY. WE’RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO THE BLUE CREW THROUGHOUT THE MORNING HERE ON FIRST NEWS. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. AND I WANT TO MENTION WITH THIS SOCCER BALL JUST THE SHINING BALL, IT’S GOING TO BE TRAVELING, LIKE I SAID TO A COUPLE DIFFERENT STADIUMS. IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE AUCTIONED OFF. AND THEN THE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP SUPPORT WOMEN’S SPORTS AS WELL. SO YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WHEN I WAS TALKING TO KIRSTEN, MAYBE YOU WERE DISTRACTED BY THAT SHINY SOCCER BALL, BUT IF NOT, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SHE WAS WEARING A TEAL KIT. WELL, THAT IS NEW FOR THIS YEAR. THE TEAM UNVEILED THEIR TEAL TOWN KITS. THAT’S GOING TO BE A FULL TEAL UNIFORM. IT FEATURES A MAP OF KANSAS CITY ALONG WITH OTHER DETAILS. THAT’S THE TEAM’S SECONDARY KIT. YOU CAN BUY IT AT THEIR TEAM STORE. SECONDARY KIT MEANS IT’S ONLY BEING PLAYED WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF TOWN, THAT THEY THEY HAVE A TASTE OF KANSAS CITY EVEN WHEN THEY’RE NOT HERE IN TOWN. SO BACK HERE AT KC STADIUM, WE’VE GOT ALL THE ENERGY, ALL THE EXCITEMENT. AND BEFORE WE SEND THINGS AWAY, I WANT TO QUICKLY BRING KIRSTEN BACK OVER. DO WE HAVE A FINAL MESSAGE AS WE SEND THINGS BACK TO THE STUDIO AHEAD OF THE SEASON? JUST COME OUT, BE LOUD AND BE PROUD OF KANSAS CITY.

KC Current-Portland Thorns fan guide: What you need to know for their first match of the season

Updated: 4:50 PM CDT Mar 14, 2025

The KC Current is back for another season on Saturday, and they’re kicking it off at home. The Current takes on the Portland Thorns at 11:45 a.m. at CPKC Stadium. After a season full of success before ultimately falling in the semifinals, KC Current’s captain Lo Labonta said this year could be the year they go all the way. «I want us to play well every game. I want every player to stay healthy. You obviously want to win,» Labonta said. Here’s a look at what you need to know if you’re heading out to CPKC for the match: Timeline:8:45 a.m. — Pre-match activities begin on the CPKC front plaza9:45 a.m. — Gates open at CPKC. Kansas City Blue Crew should note that their section is open seating, so getting to the stadium early might be a good idea. 10:15 a.m. — Player autographs 11:45 a.m. — KickoffParking and travel: Grand Boulevard Bridge is closed, so all drivers will need to take Berkley Riverfront Parkway and follow the signs to drop off near Port KC, on the far side of the Origin Hotel. The Current encourages fans to use 996 E. Berkley Parkway for pickups and dropoffs for rideshare drivers. On-site parking is limited, and guests must have a prepaid parking pass before entering. Parking passes are not available on-site. KC Current will continue to offer a free shuttle service for fans located at Seventh and Main streets. In contrast to last season, the Second and Grand streets location will not be operational until construction is finished with the Grand Boulevard Bridge. More information about parking and travel can be found on CPKC Stadium’s website here. What can I bring in?Several items are allowed inside the stadium. Bags that are clear and no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches — Non-clear wallets and clutches smaller than 5 inches by 9 inches are also permitted. No backpacks are allowed. Exceptions are diapers and medical bags, which are subject to inspection. Binoculars and casesPersonal, still-photo cameras — Cameras with detachable lenses longer than 6 inches are not allowed.Headphones Signs, flags and banners — Signs must be no larger than 11 feet by 7 feet, and flags must be no larger than 3 feet by 5 feet. If the flags or signs are on a pole, the pole must be hollow PVC that does not exceed 1 foot. Signs must not be offensive or threatening, must not damage stadium property or cover fans’ views. They must also be a lightweight cloth or paper. StrollersUmbrellasEmpty water bottles, plastic or metal, less than 32 ouncesMore information and a full list of prohibited items can be found here. Weather:Saturday’s expected low is 46 degrees with a high of 55 degrees, meaning it won’t be extremely cold, but it won’t feel as spring-like as it has this week. Temperatures will be much more seasonable. After Friday’s wind, conditions Saturday will remain blustery through the beginning of the day. Since festivities begin in the morning, it would be a good idea to dress accordingly and warmly. Still have questions? The KC Current breaks down the rest of CPKC’s match day policies here.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

The KC Current is back for another season on Saturday, and they’re kicking it off at home.

The Current takes on the Portland Thorns at 11:45 a.m. at CPKC Stadium.

After a season full of success before ultimately falling in the semifinals, KC Current’s captain Lo Labonta said this year could be the year they go all the way.

«I want us to play well every game. I want every player to stay healthy. You obviously want to win,» Labonta said.

Here’s a look at what you need to know if you’re heading out to CPKC for the match:

Timeline:

8:45 a.m. — Pre-match activities begin on the CPKC front plaza

9:45 a.m. — Gates open at CPKC. Kansas City Blue Crew should note that their section is open seating, so getting to the stadium early might be a good idea.

10:15 a.m. — Player autographs

11:45 a.m. — Kickoff

Parking and travel:

Grand Boulevard Bridge is closed, so all drivers will need to take Berkley Riverfront Parkway and follow the signs to drop off near Port KC, on the far side of the Origin Hotel.

The Current encourages fans to use 996 E. Berkley Parkway for pickups and dropoffs for rideshare drivers.

On-site parking is limited, and guests must have a prepaid parking pass before entering. Parking passes are not available on-site.

KC Current will continue to offer a free shuttle service for fans located at Seventh and Main streets. In contrast to last season, the Second and Grand streets location will not be operational until construction is finished with the Grand Boulevard Bridge.

More information about parking and travel can be found on CPKC Stadium’s website here.

What can I bring in?

Several items are allowed inside the stadium.

• Bags that are clear and no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches — Non-clear wallets and clutches smaller than 5 inches by 9 inches are also permitted. No backpacks are allowed. Exceptions are diapers and medical bags, which are subject to inspection.
• Binoculars and cases
• Personal, still-photo cameras — Cameras with detachable lenses longer than 6 inches are not allowed.
• Headphones
• Signs, flags and banners — Signs must be no larger than 11 feet by 7 feet, and flags must be no larger than 3 feet by 5 feet. If the flags or signs are on a pole, the pole must be hollow PVC that does not exceed 1 foot. Signs must not be offensive or threatening, must not damage stadium property or cover fans’ views. They must also be a lightweight cloth or paper.
• Strollers
• Umbrellas
• Empty water bottles, plastic or metal, less than 32 ounces

More information and a full list of prohibited items can be found here.

Weather:

Saturday’s expected low is 46 degrees with a high of 55 degrees, meaning it won’t be extremely cold, but it won’t feel as spring-like as it has this week. Temperatures will be much more seasonable. After Friday’s wind, conditions Saturday will remain blustery through the beginning of the day. Since festivities begin in the morning, it would be a good idea to dress accordingly and warmly.

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Still have questions? The KC Current breaks down the rest of CPKC’s match day policies here.