Kansas City Comets co-owner Brian Budzinski has purchased the Western Missouri Soccer League (WMSL) complex just southwest of the I-435/Highway 152 interchange.
In a recent news release, the Comets announced that AVB Properties, LLC, an entity solely owned by Budzinski, has acquired both the land and the league operator of WMSL. The location is just south of Soccer Drive, which connects Northeast 80th and 76th Streets between North Brighton Ave. and Shoal Creek Parkway. The property is also across I-435 from a key area in the EDC’s 587 Plan.
In the release, Budzinski said he is excited to improve the complex that has been such a vital spot for soccer development in the Northland. “I look forward to enhancing the property while broadening services to provide an inclusive sports complex with opportunities for all residents of the community,” he said.
WMSL has served the Kansas City area since 1979, providing natural grass playing surfaces to hundreds of thousands of families in the community since its inception more than four decades ago.
Mark Nasteff of Nasteff & Quinn represented the buyer, AVB Properties, LLC. Luke Meriwether of Lathrop GPM represented the seller.
“As the President of WMSL Board of Directors, I am excited for the next phase in the history of the WMSL complex,” Rob Clayton said. “As the new owner of WMSL, Brian brings with him a wealth of knowledge of soccer to the Northland, as a former player, coach, current managing partner of the KC Comets and owner of the Kansas City Soccer Dome. Brian has put together a great plan as to what the WMSL facility will become.”
The development is a 98-acre natural grass soccer complex and is one of the oldest soccer complexes in the Kansas City area. It began in 1979 when four parents started the league to provide an opportunity for about 100 children to play soccer.
