Chances are most New Yorkers have not been to Kansas City. If you’re a sports fan, you probably know about the Royals and
the Chiefs, and the fact that they have had their struggles lately. If you’re a soccer fan, you are probably up on Sporting KC’s late playoff run and their beautiful new stadium. But the truth is that the host city for the 2012 Soccer Convention and home to the NSCAA offers much more than just soccer.
This is a city with a rich history, but it is also a city that has spent billions of dollars in development to bring the city into the 21st century. The downtown area is filled with impressive boulevards, spacious parks, and dazzling fountains. It is also home to an abundance of restaurants, clubs and nightspots, museums, and shopping which are both easily accessible and well worth the time should you find yourself in KC this January.
A city of more than two million people, KC straddles the Missouri-Kansas border and is known for it’s food, fountains, and famous people (among other things). This is the home of BBQ, and there are more than 100 establishments to choose from, each with their own house specialty. This isn’t Smokin’ Al’s we’re talking about here. They take their BBQ seriously in the middle of the country, and you’ll find that most foods are hickory smoked for 18 hours or more. Let me tell you from first-hand experience – it’s worth the wait.
Kansas City is also home to more than 200 fountains—more than any other city in the world except Rome, Italy. Now on paper I realize that may not sound very exciting to a bunch of people running around in Sambas and sweatpants, but there is some impressive art and architecture in this city, and they call it the City of Fountains for a reason. It’s worth a quick walk around the Convention Center (even in January) to see some of these beautiful fountains up close.
From the roaring ‘20s to the early ‘40s, jazz reigned in Kansas City, producing the swinging signature sound that became
known as Kansas City style Jazz. Live jazz can still be heard regularly at more than 40 area nightclubs, many of which are located a short walk from the Convention Center. If the sports bar or steak house/cigar bar is more your scene, there is plenty to do in the Power & Light District, which is just two blocks from the Convention Center and the downtown hotels. This newly developed eight-block area features over 40 restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues and is the new thriving heart of the city, especially at night.
But for all the newness, this is a city that still knows how to celebrate its history. This is the home to Hallmark (you can take a tour in their visitors center), H&R Block, Appleby’s, AMC Entertainment, Sprint, Garmin, and Russell Stover Candies, and their hometown heroes read like a Who’s Who of sports, music, entertainment, and politics. Baseball Hall of Famers George Brett and Satchel Paige, track star Maurice Greene, and legendary golfer Tom Watson all call KC home. Musicians Count Basie, Pat Metheny, jazz legend Charlie Parker, Melissa Etheridge, and American Idol star David Cook all got their start here. Walter Cronkite, Walt Disney, and Ernest Hemingway all worked here, Harry Truman hailed from the area, and outlaw Jesse James was a local as well (you can visit Frank and Jesse James’ house while in town). Actors Jean Harlow. Ginger Rogers, and Ed Asner are also KC-ites.
In the end, there’s a lot to like about Kansas City. The LIJSL in Goin’ to Kansas City. We hope you’ll join us!
For more information on the convention, go to the event website at www.NSCAAConvention.com.
To register as an attendee click here
Exhibitor’s wishing to book space in the exhibition hall should visit www.NSCAA.com/exhibitors