Stocker Cattle
Preconditioning
Fly Control
BVD Resources
Cow Calf
New facility proposed for Kansas City’s American Royal
- Expensive beef forcing restaurants to feature other proteins
- MF Global paid Corzine $8 million in year before collapse
- Drought recedes, but conditions still dicey in some regions
- Cattle management: Relocating beef cows in drought conditions
- CCA on hand for milestone Steaks for Soldiers event
- Cattle futures pushed by improved beef cutout prices
- Dealing with a common disease in cattle- pinkeye
- Monday Market Sentiment: Cash cattle to drop with short week
- Prices for cull cows poised to set another record
- Registration open for 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference
- Packer-feedyard standoff continues, light trade at $123
- Group claims breakthrough with discovery of new steak cut
- Guest commentary: Slimed by pink slime
- North Dakota cattleman loses 14 cattle to vandals
- Merck Animal Health introduces ZUPREVO a new antibiotic for BRD
- Cattle feeders running out of magic tricks
- Calving calculations
- Financial tool used climate change uncertainty to select land
- NCBA Op-Ed: Ranchers’ rights are being trampled
- Cattle market analysis: Effects of the cattle on feed report
- Commentary: Searching for beef’s next toe-stubber
- Commentary: Why The New York Times' essay contest is phony
- Commentary: Vegan sweet dreams
- BSE found in central California, USDA confirms
- Slime time at AMI: expo panel on rehabbing LFTB
- Guest commentary: Slimed by pink slime
- Commentary: Bittman thinks global warming is “What’s For Dinner”
- Veterinarian responds to New York Times essay
- Vigilante cattlemen arrested for beating alleged rustler
- Commentary: Advise and dissent
A new equestrian and agricultural center was proposed yesterday by board members of Kansas City’s American Royal. The proposal calls for demolishing Kemper Arena and building a facility that better fits the needs of the 112-year-old American Royal Horse Show, Rodeo and Livestock Show.
Located in Kansas City’s West Bottoms, Kemper Arena is adjacent to the site that was the Kansas City Stockyards. Kemper Arena was built in 1974 next to the American Royal complex to host basketball games, hockey games, concerts and other events, including the American Royal Rodeo.
This year, however, the American Royal Rodeo has moved downtown to the Sprint Center, a new arena opened in October, 2007. Now, American Royal leaders believe Kemper Arena has served its useful purpose for the city and a new facility should replace it.
Mariner Kemper, CEO of UMB Financial Corp, told the Kansas City Star, “The Sprint Center is built. It is the city’s arena for concerts and sports. Instead of trying to hold on to what we have and this wonderful history, 40 years of history, let’s build for the next 40 or 50 years.”
Kemper and his father provided the land and several million dollars to build Kemper Arena, but now he and others believe the American Royal needs a 5,000-seat coliseum and facility tailored to year-round livestock and horse shows and other events.
The estimated costs for the new facility are $70 million, including $50 million in new construction, $10 million for demolition and upgrades to the existing American Royal complex, and $10 million to pay off the outstanding debt on Kemper Arena.
Kemper Arena currently has an operating deficit of more than $1 million per year and about $20 million in deferred maintenance that the city must continue to support under its lease agreement. A new facility, leaders say, would ensure continued success of the American Royal, which currently contributes an estimated $70 million to Kansas City’s economy every year.
Crosby Kemper, Jr., told the Kansas City Star, “Agriculture is the one thing that’s doing well in this country. It’s doing fabulously and we’re right in the center of it.”
The proposed new facility would include:
- A coliseum with about 5,000 seats in a bowl configuration and 125-foot by 250-foot events floor.
- A pavilion with “open air” or optional open sides. It would have space available for a show ring for livestock and horse shows, other festivals events, plus animal stalls.
- An outdoor plaza with both hard surfaces and landscaping capable of accommodating the American Royal barbeque contest and other events.
Comments (3)
Leave a commentMarion Denger
Report AbuseYou have to remember the times, but in the early sixties I turned 16 and a buddy of mine loaded up some liestock in central Iowa and head to the American Royal. What and experience. I hope they will continue to offer that experience to others. Thank you
Darrell Gittings
Report AbuseThe American Royal Livestock show afforded me the opportunity as a livestock producer to show and sell livestock for the majority of my life. The event has allowed countless youth the opportunity to tour and use the facility for several purposes over the years. As an FFA Advisor I applaud any effort to upgrade and keep the history of the facility going and would love to see a youth convention back in place someday. Thank you for the life lessons and experiences of the American Royal Livestock Shows.
Ray Miller
Report AbuseI worked for the American RoyaL from the mid 60's through 1982. Started with cleaning stalls and caring for some of the horse of the guest entertainers. From there I progress up to Paddcok Master and one of the many superintendents. My years were some of the best. I think it is good that the American Royal Board is now looking to the future. I also applaud any effort to upgrade the Royal, keeping the history going. I would like to see many of the different ag youth groups back at the Royal. Such as the FFA and 4-H National Conventions. I would also like to see the PRCA Rodeo and Ranch Rodeos moved back to the American Royal grounds.
Just my thinking.