T-Mobile Center has been the host of the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament annually since 2010Getty Images
Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center GM Jay Cooper has had “significant discussions” with the NWSL K.C. Current’s owners and K.C. Sports Commission regarding the potential housing of a WNBA team, as reported by Thomas Friestad of the K.C. BUSINESS JOURNAL. The conversations have been technical in nature, focusing on aligning the venue with WNBA standards. The owners of K.C. Current, including Chris and Angie Long and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and wife Brittany, are seen as pioneers and willing investors in women’s athletics. With ownership questions resolved, familiar faces like Mayor Quinton Lucas and Cooper view the 18,500-person capacity arena as beneficial for a local expansion team bid. They believe a future WNBA team could serve as the anchor the Downtown venue was intended to host. Cooper mentioned that T-Mobile Center already meets roughly 90% of the league’s standards, only needing minor cosmetic adjustments. This is largely due to the capital reinvestment over the years to accommodate premier events like the Big 12 basketball championships. Looking ahead, Cooper mentioned that T-Mobile Center will provide all necessary venue information for the Longs and Mahomes for their WNBA proposal (K.C. BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/24).
A LOT TO LIKE: According to Ben Frederickson in St. Louis, Celtics F Jayson Tatum, St. Louis Univ. donor Richard Chaifetz, and developer David Hoffmann are the unofficial team captains of an STL WNBA effort that has been relatively quiet regarding plans since the news leaked. St. Louis’ lack of an NBA team may hinder its chances, along with not being perceived as a growing, thriving city like its competitors and losing the Rams to L.A. However, there are many positives in St. Louis that could attract the WNBA, such as strong MLS support, high game attendance, online engagement, merchandise sales, and impressive attendance figures for the Cardinals and Blues. In 2024, the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks had a high average attendance per game at The Dome. Frederickson emphasizes the potential for sports success in St. Louis if a team plants its flag there (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/24).
RELATED: Gilbert, Rock Entertainment submit bid for Cleveland WNBA expansion team
