Revitalized Downtown KC draws millions more visitors
Attendance at the leading 15 attractions in Downtown Kansas City soared by millions over the last 10 years, according to research by the Downtown Council.
Thanks to a significant investment in Downtown over the past 10 years — particularly in entertainment venues like the Power & Light District, Sprint Center and Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts — the number of visitors soared to 19.6 million in 2012, a gain of 11.6 million — a 144 percent increase — over 2012.
“Those major investments have really been game-changers,” Mike Hurd, marketing director and author of the report, told The Kansas City Star. “They’re turned the heart of Downtown into a major destination for fun, sports entertainment and dining.”
The eight-block Power & Light District, which gradually began opening in 2007, was the biggest attraction in 2012 with 9.1 million visitors. Crown Center, complete with its Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Aquarium (both of which opened last year) was second with 6.5 million. Sprint Center rated third with an estimated 1.1 million, followed by Union Station and the City Market.
In 2002, Crown Center led the way with 5 million visitors, followed by the City Market, Kemper Arena, the American Royal and Music Hall/Municipal Auditorium.
Jon Stephens, interim president and CEO of the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association, told The Star that the dramatic increase in visitors vindicated the investment, some subsidized by taxpayers, when it came to putting Downtown back on the map.
“We are consistently hearing from visitors to Kansas City that their experience Downtown is one of the biggest positives of Kansas City,” Stephens told The Star earlier this month. “In 2002, they were visiting and having conventions in Kansas City in spite of the experience they had Downtown. Civic leaders rallied and responded, and I feel they delivered.”
Hurd told The Star that the Power & Light District has become the “the central gathering point for the city.”
And that is certain to happen again over the next five days. From Saturday, July 27 to Wednesday, July 31, the Power & Light District will play host to all fan festivities associated with the Major League Soccer All-Star Game to be played on Wednesday, July 31 at Sporting Park in KCK. The five-day run is packed with free concerts, watch parties, games and fun. Concerts featuring national acts, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and the Silversun Pickups, will present free concerts on Monday and Tuesday nights, respectively.
The MLS All Star festivities mark the second consecutive summer that national attention will be riveted on Downtown for hosting major league fan activities. Last summer, Major League Baseball was in Kansas City for the All Star Game — complete with the official fan fest at Municipal Auditorium and the Power & Light District.
Times have definitely changed in Downtown KC. The gain is 11.6 million visitors over 10 years is just one more piece of evidence of Downtown’s revival.
“It reinforces what we’re trying to do to take Downtown from being a 9-to-5 place to a 24/7 environment with innovative districts, offices, retail and residential,” Bill Dietrich, president and CEO of the Downtown Council, told The Star.
