KANSAS CITY, Mo. — CPKC Stadium will host the NWSL Championship match Saturday night.
The two highest-seeded teams, the Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride, will play for the league's championship.
The KC Current lost in last week's semifinals to Orlando.
CPKC Stadium opened in March on the Berkley Riverfront in Kansas City, Missouri.
KC Current and stadium leaders knew it would be a hard task, and while it hasn't been perfect, they are proud of the energy they've created for fans of women's sports.
"It feels correct to have the first purpose-built stadium for women's sports, you know, being at the pinnacle," said Stefanie Tomlin, KC Current vice president of stadium business development and CPKC Stadium general manager. "This is like our Super Bowl, right? It's Super Bowl for women's soccer."
Fans have packed CPKC Stadium this season, with the team losing just one match at home during the regular season.
The Current sold out every home match this season at CPKC Stadium, which has a capacity of 11,500.
This weekend, CPKC Stadium will welcome soccer fans from all over.
"Instead of it being our house for Kansas City Current games, it's really the NWSL house," Tomlin said. "Final touches now — cleaning, making sure the space is ready. We're starting to load up locker rooms and medical spaces."
Tomlin isn't the only one busy getting ready for the final.
Mira Emma takes care of what happens on the field before the championship match.
Her goal is to make sure the field is both safe and in perfect condition for the players.
"There's a ton of hype," Emma said. "It's truly an honor to be able to host this type of event."
The hype comes in a record-breaking season.
CPKC Stadium has been the stage for many historical moments — just like it will be again this weekend.
"If you build it, they will come," KC Current co-owner Angie Long said. "Well, the athletes were already here — we just needed a way to shine a light on them."
Saturday night's championship begins at 7 p.m.
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