Arena possibilities getting exciting
The new arena that is being built in downtown Kansas City has been a hot topic in the sports media for awhile now but I haven't mentioned it in this space. So here goes.
When the voters passed Question 1 on the ballot in the recent primary elections, it sounded a new note in the tired opera of failed proposals and ill-conceived notions for redeveloping downtown that I've heard almost from the day I moved to Kansas City.
Finally, here was a project that voters could actually picture being completed. We knew where the money was coming from. We knew what the arena would be called - the Sprint Center. And we knew that, at the very least, there would be a cool college basketball hall of fame as part of the project. No longer would I have to long for the days of Pendergast when, at least, things got done around here.
As someone who lives in midtown and works downtown, I've been exasperated by the lack of downtown development. I've also been critical of Mayor Kay Barnes as being a blue-blooded socialite more interested in wine tastings and tennis lessons than making any significant impact on this city. Since Barnes has been in office, there has been a lot of residential development in the downtown sector but even that seemed a little strange - how would these places get filled if there was nothing to do downtown, few places to eat and no place to shop?
Barnes has destroyed her legacy as the Great Equivocater in just a few months time. The leadership she has shown during this process has truly been impressive. Suddenly, she has become lionized by people in the city who had become understandably wary of any proposed development project involving Jackson County.
So it's all in place now. Sometime in the next year or so, ground will be broken. For me, it's particularly great. The new arena will mean more sports which is better for me both personally and professionally. Plus, the arena and the entertainment district attached to it is almost literally next door to the Kansas City Star, my place of employement which means free and convenient parking for yours truly.
What has prompted me to finally write something about this is that the buzz surrounding the possibility of a winter sports team moving here has turned out to be far greater than I ever imagined.
All along, there was all sorts of talk that well-connected AGE (Anschutz Entertainment Group), the key player in this development, would be able to steer an NHL team towards Kansas City. This would be great but, of course, I longed for an NBA team. Brian and I both love the NBA and have for a quarter of a century.
All of a sudden, the rumors regarding the NBA have become hot as a pistol. Apparently, the Orlando Magic are in dire straits as far as their arena situation is concerned. Further, the city of Orlando seems disinclined to do anything about it. Entertainment dollars are earmarked for the always-lively tourism industry of central Florida.
The Magic are operating on a year-to-year lease. They have all the characteristics of a team about to shop for a new home. And, as far as I know, Kansas City is the only major-league-sized city that has a new, state-of-the-art arena in the works.
The Sacramento Kings are also having arena problems though AGE (who we have learned yields an awfully big stick in the professional sports business) is apparently not real hot on the idea of moving the Kings.
These rumors are real. It's mind-boggling for all of this to be happening. While the nostalgic streak I have causes me to love the idea of the Kings coming back to Kansas City, the Kansas City Magic has a nice ring to it as well.
For the first time in the seven years I've been in Kansas City since leaving Chicago, I'm actually excited about living here.
Now if we could just get a downtown baseball stadium in the Crown Center area, a light-rail system from the River Market to Brookside....