Scott Jenkins described his new role as the Current’s VP/facility development as a “match that was meant to be.” Jenkins spoke to SBJ’s Bret McCormick on Day 2 of his new job overseeing the $125 million riverfront stadium that Kansas City’s NWSL team is building. When it opens next spring, KC Current Stadium -- the club has no naming rights partner yet -- will be the first purpose-built stadium for a professional women’s soccer team in the U.S. -- and maybe the world.
Jenkins’ initial goal will be to ensure the stadium construction project is LEED Gold certified, which fits his background and expertise in sustainable building. “With such a game-changing investment in the Berkley Riverfront and putting together the first stadium purpose-built for a women’s professional team, we needed to find a game-changing-type leader that would be able to really build out our vision of the stadium being a destination spot for sports and entertainment,” Current owner Chris Long said. "Scott has an invaluable amount of experience, being at the forefront of many different top facility management-type jobs, but also he’s a big believer in sustainability. As we pursue LEED Gold, we wanted to have someone that not only knew stadium operations but knew it from the sustainable mindset we wanted.”
Jenkins’ sports facility management career stretches back to the late 1990s and includes stops with the Brewers, Eagles, Mariners and AMB Sports & Entertainment. During the last decade he’s added a focus in sustainability, like with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which he helped open in 2018. That experience partly inspired him to help co-found Green Sports Alliance. Jenkins' track record led TurnkeyZRG, which handled the search, to contact him and gauge his interest in the Current opening. It was an interesting opportunity for Jenkins, who was living in Atlanta near his kids.
“I love opening new buildings, and I love sustainability, and I think it’s a great opportunity,” Jenkins said from the Current’s training facility. “How do we drive and raise the bar for women’s sports? For me, it was purpose-driven.”
Some of the elements that will contribute to KC Current Stadium's LEED certification effort include the reduction of light pollution, water use (indoors and outdoors) and construction waste; sustainable building materials; renewable energy production, including solar panel arrays; and multi-modal transit planning. The stadium is designed by KC-based Generator Studio and built by J.E. Dunn Construction and Monarch Build.
“It does cost a bit more” to build a LEED Gold certified stadium, Long said. "But capital spent upfront putting in place something that’s additive like this, we will end up with a positive return over time. I think it’s good for the community and the riverfront.”
Beyond LEED certification, Jenkins said the goal is to make the stadium the most sustainably operated venue in the country. “Coming from my perspective and looking at the industry and trying to drive change, getting LEED certification is nice, is great, but sometimes it’s just a plaque on the wall. What’s more important is how do you use it; how do you operate?”
