Hy-Vee Arena facts for kids
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Exterior view of venue, 2022
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| Former names | Kemper Arena (1974–2018) Mosaic Arena (2017) |
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| Address | 1800 Genessee St Kansas City, Missouri, US |
| Location | West Bottoms |
| Owner | Foutch Brothers LLC |
| Capacity |
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| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 17, 1972 |
| Opened | September 30, 1974 |
| Renovated | 1976, 1987, 1996, 2017–2018 |
| Construction cost | $23 million ($161 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Helmut Jahn |
| Services engineer | HNTB |
| General contractor | J. E. Dunn Construction Group |
| Tenants | |
| Former tenants: see the History section | |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Groundbreaking | September 17, 2017 |
| Opened | October 5, 2018 |
| Renovation cost | $39 million |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Foutch Architecture and Development |
| Main contractor | McCownGordon Construction |
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R. Crosby Kemper Sr. Memorial Arena
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| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000160 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 2016 |
The Hy-Vee Arena, once known as Kemper Arena, is a large indoor building in Kansas City, Missouri. It used to be a huge sports arena with 19,500 seats. Now, it's a modern center for youth sports and community activities.
This arena has hosted many exciting events. These include college basketball championships (NCAA Final Four games), professional basketball and hockey matches, and even big concerts. It was also the site of the 1976 Republican National Convention, where important political decisions were made. The arena continues to host the American Royal livestock show, a famous event for animals and agriculture.
The arena was originally named after Rufus Crosby Kemper Sr.. He was a generous person who donated a lot of money for its construction. In 2016, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because of its special and groundbreaking design by the famous architect Helmut Jahn.
Contents
The Story of Hy-Vee Arena
Building a New Arena
Kemper Arena was built very quickly, in just 18 months, between 1973 and 1974. It was constructed in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City. This spot used to be home to the Kansas City Stockyards, a place where livestock was bought and sold. The new arena was meant to replace the smaller Municipal Auditorium. It would be a home for the city's professional basketball and hockey teams.
The arena was the first major project for Helmut Jahn, a German architect. He later became very famous for his unique building designs. The building was special because it had no inside columns blocking views. Its roof was held up by strong steel beams on the outside. This "exterior skeleton" design became a signature style for Jahn. The building cost about $22 million to build.
Exciting Events of the 1970s
In the 1970s, the arena quickly became a popular spot. It even won awards for its architecture. Some of the important events and teams from this time include:
- 1974–1976: The Kansas City Scouts played here as part of the NHL.
- 1974–1985: The Kansas City Kings played their games here for the NBA.
- 1976: The arena hosted the 1976 Republican National Convention. This was a big meeting where political leaders chose who would run for president.
- June 18, 1977: The legendary singer Elvis Presley performed a sold-out concert. This was just two months before he passed away.
The Roof Incident of 1979
On June 4, 1979, a strong storm hit Kansas City. Winds reached 70 miles per hour, and heavy rain fell. This caused a part of Kemper Arena's roof to collapse. Luckily, the arena was empty at the time, so no one was hurt.
This event, along with another roof collapse in a different city, made architects think more about building safety. They started using computer models to make sure arenas were strong enough. The arena was fixed and reopened within a year.
A Hub for College Basketball
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Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Kemper Arena became famous for hosting many college basketball tournaments. It was a true "basketball mecca" for fans.
- NCAA Men's Final Four: In 1988, the arena hosted the exciting championship games for men's college basketball.
- NCAA Women's Final Four: In 1998, it hosted the championship games for women's college basketball.
- NCAA Regionals: The arena hosted regional tournaments in 1983, 1986, 1992, and 1995.
- NCAA First and Second Rounds: Early rounds of the NCAA tournament were held here in 1997, 2001, and 2004.
- NAIA Basketball Tournament: From 1975 to 1993, it was home to the NAIA national basketball championship.
- Big Eight and Big 12 Conference Tournaments: These important college conference tournaments were held here for many years.
The Kansas Jayhawks also played at least one game each year at Kemper Arena. This allowed their fans in Kansas City to see them play.
Other Professional Sports Teams
Kemper Arena was home to many other professional sports teams over the years:
- 1974–1976: The Kansas City Scouts (NHL hockey team).
- 1974–1985: The Kansas City Kings (NBA basketball team).
- 1981–1991: The Kansas City Comets (indoor soccer team).
- 1992–2005: The Kansas City Attack (later renamed the Kansas City Comets) (indoor soccer team).
- 1990–2001: The Kansas City Blades (IHL hockey team).
- 2000–2002: The Kansas City Knights (ABA basketball team).
- 2004–2005: The Kansas City Outlaws (UHL hockey team).
- 2006–2007: The Kansas City Brigade (Arena Football League team).
- 2013: The Kansas City Renegades (indoor football team).
Professional Wrestling Events
Kemper Arena was a popular venue for Professional wrestling shows from 1984 to 2008. Many different wrestling organizations held events there, including WWE, National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling.
A Sad Event in 1999
On May 23, 1999, a wrestling event called "Over the Edge" was held at Kemper Arena. During the show, a wrestler named Owen Hart was supposed to make a special entrance. He was going to come down from the arena's ceiling. However, something went wrong with his equipment, and he fell. Owen Hart was seriously injured and later passed away.
After this sad event, the wrestling organization decided to continue the show. This decision caused a lot of discussion. Owen Hart's family later sued the organization, saying that the stunt was not planned safely. They reached an agreement, and the family received money. Because of this incident, the "Over the Edge" event name was no longer used.
Updates and Changes in the 1990s
In the early 1990s, new buildings for the American Royal livestock show were added next to Kemper Arena. These cost $33.4 million.
In 1997, the arena itself got a $23 million upgrade. This included a new glass-enclosed lobby on the east side. They also added 2,000 more seats, improved seating on the lower level, new restrooms, and an easier entrance for people with disabilities.
Becoming a Youth Sports Center
Between 2017 and 2018, the arena went through a big $29 million renovation. It was transformed into a modern facility for youth sports. The new Hy-Vee Arena now has 12 hardwood basketball courts. Four courts are on the lower level, and eight are on a new upper level. There's also a 350-meter indoor running track. Both levels have spaces for shops and offices.
The arena was briefly going to be called Mosaic Arena, but that naming deal changed. On May 17, 2018, the grocery store chain Hy-Vee bought the naming rights. This is how the building officially became known as Hy-Vee Arena.
The American Royal Connection
The American Royal Association, which hosts livestock events, has a long history with this arena. They helped pay for the original building and held their events there for many years. Their offices and a museum were also located in the building. The American Royal later moved to a new complex that includes Hale Arena.
See also
In Spanish: Kemper Arena para niños
- List of National Basketball Association arenas
- List of National Hockey League arenas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Missouri: Downtown Kansas City
