When can sports fans ride the Riverfront streetcar to KC Current soccer games?
On Saturday, soccer fans will make their way by car, bike and on foot to Kansas City’s riverfront for the KC Current’s opening match. But not by streetcar. Yet.
While the Kansas City Streetcar Authority had previously projected an “early 2026” opening for the Riverfront extension, a start date has not been announced. However, the agency is aiming for a May opening, according to spokesperson Donna Mandelbaum.
After two years of construction, the 0.7 mile addition will connect CPKC Stadium, Berkley Riverfront Park and the Missouri River with the rest of the streetcar line.
Currently, crews are making sure the train controls and overhead power wires function safely.
Starting in April, streetcar operators will begin to practice navigating the new rails. This is when Riverfront residents will regularly hear the dings of the streetcar.
That month, some northbound streetcars will drop off passengers at the River Market and continue on to the riverfront. When the extension opens, the streetcar will no longer end in a loop through the River Market.
Construction is supposed to wrap up on related Riverfront projects by the World Cup, Mandelbaum said.
A sculptural riverfront pavilion is expected to be completed around the same time the extension opens. The separately-funded northmost-terminus of the streetcar system will provide seating and cover for streetcar riders with a design that echoes the nearby Missouri River.
The city is building a pedestrian and bike bridge from the River Market to the Riverfront that adjoins the streetcar tracks. It is supposed to be completed at the same time as the streetcar extension.
Pedestrians and bicyclists going to Current games should stay away from the Grand Boulevard bridge and take the Town of Kansas bridge to the riverfront until the new bridge opens around May, Mandelbaum said.
Monthly streetcar ridership has more than doubled over last year after the Main Street extension opened in October. On average, 8,829 people rode the streetcar each day in February 2026, compared to 2,361 daily ridership the year before.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 1:49 PM.
