From the day following Sporting Kansas City's elimination from the 2018 Audi MLS Cup playoffs, the pitch at Children's Mercy Park has been undergoing improvements for 2019.
Among the improvements are major field renovations: adding grow lights, synthetic turf outside of the touchlines, new sod and, perhaps most impressively, underground electrical field heat. Children’s Mercy Park will be the first professional stadium in the United States to feature this electrical heating system, per the club.
"Among the many advantages of installing an electrical heating system (versus a glycol heating system) are consistent heat across all areas of the pitch, precision temperature control, instant on/off functionality and efficient zoning of areas that need heat," Dan Lolli, Sporting KC Vice President of Operations, told MLSsoccer.com through the club.
The club assured that the playing surface will be ready for Sporting's Concacaf Champions League opener on Feb. 21 against Toluca.
"We are very pleased with the progress to date and the professionalism from FIELDS, our partner on this project," Lolli added.
