Sporting Kansas City announces plan to build U.S. national training center
KANSAS CITY, Kan. --
Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City announced plans to build a $75 million National Training and Coaching Development Center.
Sporting chief executive Robb Heineman joined Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Wyandotte County officials Wednesday to announce plans for the 190-acre soccer village about 10 minutes from Sporting Kansas City's home stadium.
Center supporters say they hope the complex will serve as the future home of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Plans call for 16 fields, including one climate-controlled indoor field, 11 outdoor grass fields and four outdoor synthetic fields.
"Player and coaching development is a main focus for U.S. Soccer, and we are pleased that Sporting Club is pursuing a world-class training facility to help the sport continue to grow and advance," United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said in a release.
"We're looking forward to working with Sporting Club on the next steps toward the creation of the National Training and Coaching Development Center and anticipate it hosting our national teams and coaching education programming in the future."
The center is expected to be completed in 2016.
