How to Have a Ball in Kansas City, Kansas

The game’s afoot in Kansas City, Kansas. This prime destination in America’s heartland is ideally suited for visitors in town for meetings, conferences and sporting events. There is such a variety of opportunities that everyone, from young athletes to corporate business travelers, will feel like they are in a choose-your-own-adventure.

With time and financial constraints weighing on attendees’ minds, events must become the sum of a variety of experiences. No longer can planners leave it up to meetings in hotels and conferences rooms to prove their own worth. Leads and victories remain important, but memories are the true trophies these days.

This plays right into the strength of Kansas City, Kansas. You’ve never really had barbecue (and especially burnt ends) until you’ve visited here. But there is so much more than amazing barbecue. The region’s diverse culture is a true melting pot with a rich stew of flavors—perhaps none so tasty than those found on the KCK Taco Trail. Get a taste of all that’s offered either as part of an event function or a night on the town with your friends, family, and colleagues.

There’s always a full slate of activities, made possible by the array of stellar venues planners will be choosing from. Our lineup includes top soccer, racing and baseball fields, and we’re just getting started. Like a championship team with elite prospects in the farm system, we have a pipeline of new opportunities awaiting you and your organization. Even a bridge to the other Kansas City is set to become a destination in its own right.

Seeing is believing in Kansas City, Kansas. And we can’t wait to show you why an event here is sure to be a grand slam. Read on for all that makes us so special.

Prime Time Fields

Sports is a way of life here. That enthusiasm carries over to the events we host. Whether your event features hundreds of teams on the field or you are planning to take your group to the ol’ ballgame, we’ve got our bases covered.

The aptly named Legends Field has been home to many memorable events. The Kansas City Monarchs, an independent professional baseball team, take their swings here—always a popular, and affordable, night out. Rent out a suite for a VIP experience. Meeting rooms and the entire field are available for private events, including concerts, galas and receptions.

Major League Soccer action featuring Sporting KC hits a fever pitch at Children’s Mercy Park, which will also be the home of the National Women's Soccer League’s KC Current through the 2023 season. Inspire young athletes to reach their full potential while watching the pros. Club-level seating and special sections are available for corporate groups who get a kick out of the beautiful game. With the buildup toward the 2026 World Cup, which will include games in the Kansas City Meto area, passion for soccer is only sure to grow. Children’s Mercy Park is also a unique venue for corporate gatherings, fundraisers, galas, and other special events. The stadium includes myriad event spaces, complete with in-house catering, ideal for everything from intimate gatherings to teambuilding activities to massive events for up to 18,000 attendees. Highlights include the Shield Club, Audi Sport Club, Budweiser Brew House, Executive Lounge, Mazuma Plaza and the field itself. New venues include the Boot Room, a spectacular speakeasy, and the reimagined UMB Field Club, which will open in March 2023.

Compass Minerals Sporting Fields is a shining star when it comes to hosing tournaments and events. There are 12 fields—eight turf and four grass—spread across 52 acres. Participants in soccer, football (tackle and flag), lacrosse, quidditch and other sports can have a field day at this site 2 miles northeast of I-70 and I-435, and neighboring The Legends Outlets.

It wouldn’t be a pit stop here without a trip to Kansas Speedway, a NASCAR hotbed for years. The crew here gets a rush by creating unique experiences for groups. Beyond racing, the racetrack hosts 200 events per year, in part thanks to the on-site Hollywood Casino. The American Royal World Series of BBQ certainly cooked up a storm here.

Entertainment Galore

Attendees interested in a different kind of workout will flock to Legends Outlets, a shopping and entertainment hub with more than 100 storefronts. Nearly all your favorite brands are open for business here. The best part is that the shopping district is within minutes of all the major sporting venues described above and the hotels your group will be staying, demonstrating how easy it is to travel around town.

For some extra innings of shopping, you can’t go wrong at Cabela’s or Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Attendees can follow their noses to discover a trail of delicious, local dining both in Village West and downtown. Tacos are terrific here, to say nothing of the barbecue. We all know deals get done over good food and drinks. Kansas City, Kansas, is proud to tee up business among meeting attendees.

Great Wolf Lodge is a popular option for youth sports tournaments, corporate meetings, reunions, and more. The indoor waterpark features eight waterslides, four activity pools, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket and two large whirlpools. When it’s time to get down to business, there’s 4,431 square feet of meeting space and three breakout rooms. There is a separate entrance to the meeting areas separate from the water park guests.

A good bet for enjoyment is a stop at one of the KC area’s casinos. Attendees can try their hand at blackjack, roulette, or their game of choices—or stop in for a show or memorable meal.

• 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, sports more than 550 slot machines, as well as two bars and a café.
• Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in the West Village boasts 2,000 slot machines and 52 table games, including a Poker Room. Fine dining to casual fare is available in the five on-site restaurants and bars.

Add local flavor to activities by retracing the area’s proud history. Plan a wellness break or walking meeting at Kaw Point Park, a famous stop on the Lewis & Clark expedition. Better yet, rent out the amphitheater as a special event for your group. Anglers also enjoy the unique fishing tournaments on the Missouri River held here.

More to Come

The excitement is building over several noteworthy projects that will make our region even more desirable for sports, events and meetings.

The Homefield project, projected to open by 2025, figures to be a home run for event planners. Top-of-the-line baseball fields are in the works, as is an indoor sports facility capable of hosting elite basketball and volleyball tournaments.

Off the field, the planned Margaritaville will be the first resort of its kind in Kansas, ideal for corporate meetings, conferences, and events. Margaritaville hotels and resorts are renowned for unique venues, top-notch F&B, and unbeatable atmosphere, making this a major addition to Kansas City. More hotels are planned to provide greater infrastructure for large events.

The American Royal Association is in the final stages of planning its new headquarters—a project that will not only benefit the group but all event planners. Once completed, the new site is sure to make Kansas City a hub for agricultural business and events. Highlights of the massive project include:

• A 164,000-sq.-ft. livestock expo arena with about 5,000 permanent seats and an additional 3,200 temporary seats for a variety of events
• A 250,000-sq.-ft. livestock exhibition hall, including pens for 2,000 animals, for events
• About 5,000 square feet of office space, including a headquarters for the corporate offices of the American Royal
• A 6,500-sq.-ft. Agricultural Education Center featuring exhibits, an interactive museum-based learning environment, and meeting and professional training space.

Rock Island Bridge is billed as the country’s first destination bridge. It’s easy to see why. A large food hall is planned for visitors to get coffee, adult beverages, homemade pizza and much more. The site literally bridges the Kansas-Missouri border, and just a short stroll to Hy-Vee Arena, the nation’s first multi-level, multi-functional sports complex.

One improvement project sure to benefit all events is the revamping of Kansas City International Airport into a single-terminal beacon for travelers. New restaurants and shopping will be a great kickoff for a stay in the region. It is the largest single infrastructure project in Kansas City’s history. The ETA for completion is early 2023.

Momentum is building in Kansas City, Kansas. See what all the excitement is about for yourself. Rest assured, a business gathering or sporting event here will be an experience your attendees will love. The meetings will be productive and the games will be thrilling. But the memories built here will exceed any event’s objectives. But don’t take our word for it—come see the difference in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas.

Visit Kansas City Kansas is committed to making your sporting event the best it can be. We are here to help with your bid proposals, site inspections, hotel assistance, and registration support.