The rise and fuel of St. Joseph sports organizations

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — With the St. Joseph Mustangs being a local fan favorite, the St. Joseph Goats winning their first championship and Astras FC moving to the area, there are a few things attracting and keeping the teams in St. Joseph.

Since 2009, the St. Joseph Mustangs, a collegiate woodbat team, have won multiple championships while also doing what they can to get out in the community.

Mustangs Owner Ky Turner believes getting out and communicating with fans has made his team part of the town’s fabric.

“We’re the community team. And, you know, we brought ten championships to Saint Joe. Everyone loves a winner. We also really measure ourselves by our impact off the field and what we’re able to accomplish there, too,” Turner said. “Anyone can be a part of it. I mean, I think that’s what makes it mean so much.”

Looking to intertwine their own culture within the community and finding success with it through a recent championship year is the St. Joseph Goats.

Although potential fans showed up to the Goats’ move announcement and fan expos before the first season in St. Joseph, some team members worried about what would happen to the arena league team after switching from Kansas City to St. Joseph.

Once the team noticed it had good ticket sales right before the first game, managing partner Ted Sweeney said they were more than confident the team would work being in St. Joseph.

“Leading up to the day before and the day of the game, tickets just spiked. So we were excited, and then we were wondering what kind of crowd we would get, Sweeney said. “The crowd was awesome. It was one of our louder crowds, ever energetic. You know, 2,500 people, which makes, you know, Civic Arena look full.”

Of course, finances are also a big part of whether a team survives today. The St. Joseph Goats began to see a brighter future after majority owner and St. Joseph-area entrepreneur Steve Craig took over later in the first season in town.

The money doesn’t need to come only from the teams themselves, but from the venues that host them.

The City of St. Joseph and supporting partners helped renovate Phil Welch, where the Mustangs play. Along with new seats and more at Phil Welch, the Civic Arena in Downtown St. Joseph was also renovated.

This helped not only keep the Mustangs’ success going, but also help attract the Goats and more, according to St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely.

“Nearly six years ago, we basically gave the venue an entire facelift. And so, you know, it’s been really cool to have people come into the venue that haven’t been in it in 20 years,” Esely told KQ2. “They say, wow, we don’t even know the place we’re in. We don’t even recognize this place.”

The renovations, which have helped smaller teams like the Goats succeed at the Civic Arena, have also helped welcome another sports team that will call downtown St. Joseph home: Astras FC. The indoor women’s soccer club is set to play a full home schedule at the Civic Arena in the winter of 2026-27.

However, besides the money and the renovations, there’s always a need for a supporting community, according to Goats fan Joseph Kirby.

“I think that it’s a passionate community that wants to rally around something like that,” Kirby shared. “So, you know, I think every game we’ve gone to, it seems like attendance gets bigger and bigger. So it’s something great. “

From fans to renovated spaces and community support, there are numerous factors helping new teams with an opportunity to grow in St. Joseph.

* Writer’s note: This story features teams that play games within the city limits of St. Joseph.

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