It's Draft Day, KC!

Events

NFL Draft in KC

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Kansas City will play host to the NFL draft this weekend with festivities starting at 7 pm tonight at Union Station. KC has been hard at work to make the weekend about much more than just the draft, and all events can be found here. Not really a sports person, but don’t want to be left out of the conversations at work? We’ve got you covered.

• First Round: Starting Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers will almost assuredly be taking Alabama’s QB Bryce Young first overall. Despite his smaller size, experts expect him to be the Panther’s starter right away.

• Hometown Heroes: The Chiefs, having won the Super bowl in February, will lay claim to the last pick in each round. Brian Branch, Safety from Alabama, is slated to be the Chiefs first pick, but that could change depending on what happens ahead of them.

• Access: to ensure your access to all the fun, make sure you download the NFL One Pass app. Registration, maps, attractions, transportation, and more is all within this app.

Transportation

Drive, Walk or Ride

If you’re planning on heading to Union Station for the draft this weekend, you may want to put together a plan before you go. With over 300,000 NFL fans expected to be there throughout the weekend, it might be a little harder to catch an Uber than you thought.

• Park and Walk: If you’re planning on just huffing it the old fashioned way, expect Main Street to be blocked all weekend.

• Streetcar: Luckily, the streetcar will be in action all weekend. If you’re curious about where to hop on and off, you can find a good map here.

• Park and Ride: If you’re planning on parking in the West Bottoms and taking public transit, know your drop off will still require a little walking.

On the upside, if you’ve been a Chiefs fan for longer than 10 weeks, you’re probably an expert at getting around a busy Union Station where the Super Bowl Parade ended.

BBQ

All Good Things Come to Burnt Ends

With so many people in town this weekend, it will be the perfect opportunity for KC to show off its world famous barbecue. It's no secret that there are endless choices for good barbecue, but KC has launched their KC BBQ Experience app to help you work through the city’s best. Check in, earn badges, and be guided by themed trails, such as old-school joints, geography and more. What are some of our favorites?

• Joe’s KC: famously nested in a KCK gas station, Joe’s KC touts its famous Z-Man beef brisket sandwich. Get there early because the line gets long for this Kansas City staple. Don’t worry, it’s 100% worth it.

• Q39: Originally right off 39th street, Q39, offers championship winning BBQ alongside truly incredible sides. You can’t go wrong with anything, but we recommend the Q Pork Spare Ribs.

• Jack Stack: If you’re looking for a bit more upscale version of BBQ, Jack Stack is where the lore around KC burnt ends was born. Get them as an appetizer or entrée, but be sure to add an order of the cheesy corn too. Your tummy will thank you.

KC Daily Picks

In Other News

• The BIG Stage: The stage constructed for this year’s draft will be the largest stage ever. At nearly 67,000 square feet, that’s larger than an actual football field.

• Music: Even if you’re not a big football fan, you’ll still want to stick around for the live concerts. Fall Out Boy, Motley Crue, and Thundercat headline the weekend.

• Economy: Forbes estimates that the draft should generate over $100 million in economic impact for Kansas City.