Just Look at the Crowds: KC's Renewed Downtown a Success

That’s right, 12,000 folks came downtown, just to watch the big screen. As we celebrated Landon Donovan’s goal, I sensed something defining was happening. I knew that Kansas City had delivered on its promise of downtown revitalization and that there was no turning back. Downtown was again a destination, and it is a keeper.

Of course, one soccer match doesn’t begin to tell downtown’s story. The Sprint Center has been a success beyond all projections. Just last week, it was ranked the third busiest arena in the nation for the first six months of this year, behind only Madison Square Garden in New York City and Philips Arena in Atlanta. In the 33 months since the Sprint Center opened, it has welcomed more than 3.6 million guests to more than 350 diverse events. In just its first two years, AEG, the operator of the Sprint Center, has paid the city more than $2.5 million in user fees and $2.1 million in revenue sharing.

Across the street, where once stood blight and decay, stands the Power & Light entertainment complex that is the envy of every city. In fact, based on the city’s successful hosting of the Big 12 tournament earlier this year, Kansas City was chosen to continue to host the tournament through at least 2014. This alone will bring more than $60 million to the city.

And if basketball is not your pleasure, you can dine, dance, listen to live music, or catch a movie at AMC’s Mainstreet or a show at the historic and beautifully refurbished Midland Theatre. City tax collections from downtown alone have increased by $23.4 million, or 40 percent, since 2002. These amenities have contributed to the downtown residential population nearly doubling from 9,200 to 17,500 over the last 10 years.

Clearly, downtown is a host for both Kansas Citians and visitors. In spite of a tough economy, Kansas City has enjoyed a 28 percent increase in convention attendees for the months of May through July. Year to date, the economic impact from conventions is up 32 percent from a year ago. And you don’t have to take just my word for it. Media outlets across the world are saying good things about Kansas City. So far this year, Kansas City has received positive coverage in The New York Times, the Food Network, the Travel Channel, The Miami Herald, Southern Living and Arthur Frommer’s.

Ten years ago, Kansas City’s downtown was surrounded by vacant buildings, surface parking lots and notable businesses like adult stores and massage parlors. Today, the surface lots are gone, the hotels are no longer vacant and Main Street is alive with restaurants, movie theaters, small businesses, a world headquarters, and even a bustling grocery store.

Ten years ago, downtown closed its doors at 5 p.m. Today it’s an around-the-clock destination for people to work, live and play. There is no buyer’s remorse when it comes to the renewed downtown.

Russ Johnson is the in-district city councilman for Kansas City’s 2nd District, which includes downtown.