Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
- Get ticketsMinnesota United FC at Sporting Kansas CityThu, Jul 23, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsHouston Dynamo FC at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Aug 2, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsSt. Louis CITY SC at Sporting Kansas CityThu, Aug 20, 2026 · 7:00 PM CDT
- Get ticketsVancouver Whitecaps at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Aug 30, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsLAFC at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Sep 13, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsPhiladelphia Union at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Sep 20, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsPortland Timbers at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Oct 11, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsReal Salt Lake at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Oct 18, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsAustin FC at Sporting Kansas CitySun, Oct 25, 2026 · 7:30 PM CDT
- Get ticketsFC Dallas at Sporting Kansas CitySat, Oct 31, 2026 · 2:00 PM CDT
Plan your trip
Curated booking starting points for a Kansas City trip. Some links are affiliate links — purchases may earn GameAway a commission at no extra cost to you.
Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Children's Mercy Park fills early.
Getting there
Children's Mercy Park sits in Kansas City, Kansas — across the state line from Kansas City, MO — in the Village West entertainment district adjacent to the Kansas Speedway. The stadium is off I-70 at the 110th Street exit, about 20 minutes west of downtown Kansas City, MO. There is no rail connection to the stadium — driving and rideshare are the dominant approaches. Team-affiliated and adjacent surface lots ring the venue (shared with the Kansas Speedway and the Legends Outlets shopping district on non-conflicting dates), and reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats match-day pricing. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed along Village West Parkway. Confirm bag and entry rules on the Sporting Kansas City official site before going.
The neighborhood
Village West is a master-planned entertainment district anchored by the Kansas Speedway, Children's Mercy Park, the Legends Outlets shopping mall, and a cluster of chain restaurants and bars. The surrounding area is suburban-commercial rather than urban — surface parking, big-box retail, and the Speedway oval dominate the immediate surroundings. The Legends Outlets at the southern edge of the district hosts a deep cluster of pre-match restaurants and is the canonical pre-match dining option. The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway sits a short walk west and offers a sit-down meal option. Downtown Kansas City, MO sits 20 minutes east by car and offers the dense Kansas City BBQ scene that visiting fans typically pair with a match-day visit. Sporting KC's supporters' culture — particularly The Cauldron in the southern end of the stadium — anchors the pre-match social scene in the lots before kickoff.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable and short-drive pre-match stops center on the Legends Outlets cluster south of the stadium and the canonical Kansas City BBQ corridor. Yard House Legends (a large pre-match sit-down at the Legends Outlets), Granite City Food and Brewery (a Legends Outlets brewpub option), and Dave & Buster's Kansas City round out the Legends cluster. For the canonical Kansas City BBQ detour, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que at the original gas-station location in Kansas City, KS is the closest cult-favorite BBQ to the stadium — about a 10-minute drive — and the Z-Man sandwich and burnt ends are canonical. Slap's BBQ in KCK is the modern competition-circuit BBQ counter from the Hosfield brothers. Char Bar in Westport across the river is a BBQ-and-cocktail option for a longer pre-match detour. Tailgating in the surrounding lots opens before Sporting KC matches and supporters' culture is part of the scene.
First-timer tips
Plan around The Cauldron — Sporting Kansas City's supporters' section anchors the southern end of the stadium and is consistently rated one of the most active supporters' atmospheres in MLS. The stadium is purpose-built as a soccer-specific venue and the partial canopy roof covers most seating bowls — the building was widely praised at opening as one of MLS's best-designed soccer-specific venues. Combine the visit with the Joe's KC original gas-station location, which is about a 10-minute drive from the stadium and the closest legit BBQ option. Mobile-only tickets are the norm. The club publishes current bag policy on the official site and the rules change — check before traveling.
Best games to catch
Sporting KC's strongest match-day draws are the Western Conference rivalries — Sporting KC–Houston Dynamo, Sporting KC–FC Dallas, Sporting KC–Colorado Rapids (the Rocky Mountain Cup), and Sporting KC–Minnesota United all pull above-average crowds. Sporting KC–St. Louis CITY SC has emerged as the most-anticipated rivalry of recent seasons — the closest geographic rivalry given the Missouri/Kansas/Missouri corridor and one of the hottest new rivalries in MLS since CITY SC's 2023 entry. Visits from LAFC, Inter Miami (especially since Messi's arrival), the Seattle Sounders, the Portland Timbers, and the LA Galaxy typically anchor the strongest match days of the season. US Open Cup home dates and any MLS Cup Playoff matches price as the hardest tickets of the year. The club's promotional calendar — supporters' scarves, heritage match nights, fireworks dates — is published on the club site and varies year to year.
What to know
Children's Mercy Park opened in June 2011 as LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and was renamed Sporting Park in 2013 after the LIVESTRONG partnership ended, then Children's Mercy Park in 2015 under a long-term partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital. The stadium was purpose-built as a soccer-specific venue for Sporting Kansas City (formerly the Kansas City Wizards) and the building was widely praised at opening as one of MLS's best-designed soccer-specific venues, with the partial canopy roof covering most seating bowls and the integrated club and premium-seating areas setting a template that subsequent MLS stadiums followed. Sporting Kansas City is one of MLS's founding clubs (entering as the Kansas City Wiz in 1996, rebranded Wizards in 1997, then Sporting Kansas City in 2011 alongside the stadium opening). The club has won two MLS Cup titles (2000 and 2013) and the 2013 championship came in the building's third season. The stadium has hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, US Men's National Team friendlies, and a steady concert calendar in addition to MLS play.
Frequently asked questions
What time do gates open at Children's Mercy Park?
Gates typically open about 90 minutes before kickoff for standard matches, sometimes earlier for marquee opponents or themed events. Check the Sporting KC official match-day page for the specific date's gate-open time.
How do I get to Children's Mercy Park without a car?
There is no rail connection to the stadium. Most fans drive or use rideshare from elsewhere in the Kansas City metro. The stadium is about 20 minutes west of downtown Kansas City, MO.
Where can I park near Children's Mercy Park?
Team-affiliated and adjacent Village West surface lots ring the venue, shared with Kansas Speedway on non-conflicting dates. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats match-day pricing.
Is Children's Mercy Park the same as Sporting Park?
Yes — the stadium opened as LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in 2011, was Sporting Park from 2013 to 2015, and became Children's Mercy Park in 2015 under a new partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital. It is the same Village West stadium; only the naming-rights partner has changed.
Where do the Sporting KC supporters sit?
The Cauldron — Sporting Kansas City's primary supporters' group — anchors the southern end of the stadium behind one goal and is consistently rated one of the most active supporters' sections in MLS. Tickets in or near The Cauldron deliver the most active atmosphere in the stadium.
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