Join us as we transform a stadium for new generations.
In the Generations Growing Together capital campaign, St. Joseph will revitalize its former high school football field by turning it into a multi-purpose youth athletic facility to serve the greater community.
When completed in summer 2026, the St. Joseph Athletic Facility will be a regional hub for youth sports in the Catholic community, serving thousands of families in the Kansas City metro region. It will also be a community athletic field for multiple sports in Shawnee, KS, northern Johnson County, KS and southern Wyandotte County, KS. There is no other facility in the area that is designed for such versatile use by Catholic families, and also available to community groups for athletic events.
See the June 2026 construction progress at the facility
FACILITY Improvements
The St. Joseph Stadium, formerly the St. Joseph High School stadium (later renamed Mirocke Stadium after the legendary Coach Gennaro Mirocke of St. Joseph/Aquinas High Schools), was built in the mid-1950s and has not been renovated since 2003, when a new concession/press box building and bleachers were added. The stadium has been used extensively over the years for CYO football practice, games and track meets. But in the last few years, both the field and track have deteriorated and the facility has been used only sparingly for CYO events.
Improvements will include expanding the athletic field and installing a new turf field that can be used primarily for tackle and flag football and be converted into multiple youth soccer fields, and potentially lacrosse. The football field will be regulation size and convertible into multiple flag football fields. This will help address the high demand for more flag football fields for the area’s fastest-growing youth sport. Three lanes of a meter length track will also be built. Although not usable for track meets, it will be sufficient for track practices and be useful as a student & family walking and jogging track.
The renovation plan also calls for a new sound system, field lighting, fencing and video scoreboard. Accessible restrooms will be added on the first floor of the former high school building (currently the EEC) to serve both the athletic facility and the St. Joseph main gym. Additional parking and a maintenance building will also support the facility, and team meeting rooms will be available for teams preparing to play here.
Key Partnerships
CYO Regional Sports:
In addition to supporting the parish needs for sports practices, physical education and special parish events, the St. Joseph Athletic Facility will be home to the regional Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), serving nearly 2,000 football players (tackle and flag) ages 7-14 from Catholic parishes in the Kansas City region, as well as other youth and adult groups.
The facility will provide CYO and thousands of Catholic families in the Kansas City area with accessible and high-quality resources for youth sports, especially at the elementary school level, where sports participation is growing. Youth football participation is growing at a rate of 6-8% nationally, and local estimates are even higher. More than 600 girls currently participate in CYO flag football.
Register now for fall 2026 CYO tackle and flag youth football
Special Olympics Kansas:
The facility also will be the inclusive home to many Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) sports and activities. SOKS does not have its own athletic field, and will use the facility for soccer, flag football, bocce and cornhole programs.
St. Joseph Elementary School is partnering with Special Olympics to become the first Catholic school in the region to become a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, integrating inclusive curriculum, leadership development and activities in the school environment. Similarly, the St. Joseph Early Education Center will host the SOKS Young Athletes programs, innovative sports play programs for children with intellectual disabilities, ages 2-7.
How to become a Special Olympics Kansas athlete
Sporting KC Youth Soccer:
A partnership with Sporting KC Youth Soccer will launch in March 2026 with indoor programs for toddlers and young children in the St. Joe Auxiliary (carpeted) Gym, and expand to youth outdoor soccer programs when the new Athletic Facility is completed this summer. Sporting Stripes (ages 2-5) and Sporting Stars (ages 5-8) programs will be offered at St. Joseph to help children begin learning and developing soccer skills, teamwork and enjoyment of the game.
Register now for Sporting KC Youth Soccer
Catholic Challenge Sports:
The St. Joseph Athletic Facility plans to host Catholic Challenge Sports events for its young adult recreational sports leagues and social events. CCS is a division of City on the Hill, a large, metro KC-based group of young adults who foster fellowship and community through a variety of activities. Additional community groups are also considering use of the facility.
The St. Joseph Athletic Facility will convert from full size football and soccer fields to multiple youth football and soccer fields.
PARTNERSHIP Opportunities
St. Joseph Parish will operate and manage the athletic facility and attract the involvement of businesses and community organizations in partnerships that will financially support the ongoing operation and maintenance of the facility. These youth sports sponsorships, along with facility rental fees, are projected to help support the development of the property.
Explore partnerships/sponsorships with the St. Joseph Athletic Facility
Learn more about the community benefits of the St. Joseph Athletic Facility and EEC here.
Learn more about the parish benefits of the St. Joseph Athletic Facility and EEC here.
