KCRag Forum

aknowledgeableperson wrote: ↑Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:20 am

flyingember wrote: ↑Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:09 am It's a great place.

The former American Royal complex is a convention center. It's Kemper, Hale Arena + Governors Building

There's also a large parking area for bringing in equipment and has multiple loading docks.

Remember it is not Kemper anymore, it has been changed quite a bit. Also it is now privately owned. Hale Arena and the Governors' Building can be used as exhibit buildings, true, but they are not setup like Bartle Hall with regards to utility connections. And it is a government owned facility.
Those cities using convention facilities instead of other alternatives are using them for a reason.

FangKC wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:05 am With land in hand, American Royal plans to start building $220M site in KCK next year

...
The Royal’s current lease with Kansas City for its West Bottoms complex limits it to a 14-week event season, McClaskey said. But the new complex will open up new possibilities. The new development plan includes more than 800,000 square feet of indoor event space, including barn and exposition areas, three performance arenas, one warm-up arena and more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. McClaskey said the group plans for a private developer to build a hotel and conference center on land adjoining the complex.

It will also include 2,400 parking spots and outdoor space that can host festivals or other events — an architectural rendering shows a Ferris wheel in the front parking lot to demonstrate that point.

McClaskey said construction should begin next summer with significant work completed by December 2021.
...

https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 04559.html

aknowledgeableperson wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 7:15 am There isn't much left of what the American Royal use to be. The rodeo use to be the main draw, it was the last rodeo before the finals so it was the last chance for riders to get their points. I believe Vegas with its money started a competing rodeo so it drew the big name cowboys to it and the AR one became second rate. The bull riding circuit also became a competition. The horse show was also a big time but it too suffered from prize fund troubles.

...
On Monday evening, the UG's Planning Committee gave unanimous approval to rezone the 127-acre site. The decision allows the organization to remove a hotel it proposed in a previous iteration of the project.

American Royal President Jackie McClaskey previously said she anticipated that developers from nearby properties would build their own hotel, so that component became unnecessary in the organization's plans.

American Royal now plans to build a one-level arena for livestock shows, equine events and rodeos. The facility will include a large barn and an approximately 400,000-square-foot exhibition space. There would be three arenas — two indoor and one outdoor — as well as an education and welcome center for food and agricultural education.
...
Construction on the three-arena facility will take about two years, so McClaskey said the organization will celebrate its 125th anniversary in the West Bottoms, which has been its home from the beginning.
...

trailerkid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 1:55 am Just when you thought Western Wy Co couldn't get more bizarre. It's the physical manifestation of one bad idea after another.

It was once a Kansas City sports palace.

Now, you can own the Hy-Vee Arena, formerly known as Kemper Arena.

The facility is on sale again for $36 million.

Steve Foutch, with Foutch Brothers, bought the building a half a decade ago for $1, saving the building from the wrecking ball and saving the city nearly $5 million in demolition fees by doing it.

The Foutch Brothers had big plans for Hy-Vee Arena. They wanted to repurpose the iconic building, but right after completing the rebuild, Covid-19 arrived.

“When COVID hit, everything went south quickly,” Steve Foutch said.

Tournaments were cancelled as a result and expected funding was lost.

langosta wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 1:08 pm What do you do with Hale once American Royal leaves?

Convert to additional youth sports space? Bulldoze for parking and develop the current parking lots?

aknowledgeableperson wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 3:08 pm

langosta wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 1:08 pm What do you do with Hale once American Royal leaves?

Convert to additional youth sports space? Bulldoze for parking and develop the current parking lots?

Hale Arena, the Governors Building, and Exhibition Halls are still under the control of the City's Convention and Entertainment Deprtment so separate from HyVee Arena. Will still function the same as now.

https://kcconvention.com/venue/hale-arena/