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Putting A Thumb On The Scales

A new ad campaign is seeking to draw the Royals to NKC, The Plaza owners defaulted on their loan, and Greek Fest returns to Kansas City for the 61st time.

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KC Daily
September 06, 2023

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Development

Thumb On the Scales

Kansas City Royals

Happy Wednesday, Kansas City! A new ad campaign launched last week has gained some momentum in a late push to woo the Royals to North Kansas City.

  • Lots To Offer: Fox4 reports TO NKC, LLC, is promoting a potential Royals stadium in Clay County, Missouri, with ads emphasizing the economic and social impact of bringing the team north of the river.

  • Short & Sweet: The group's mission, according to state records, is to educate the public about the proposed stadium. Some of the benefits laid out in the 30-second ad are the $1B investment from the Royals, as well as economic boosts to schools and local businesses.

  • The NKC Dream: The proposed location of the North Kansas City baseball district would be a few miles north of downtown with a true neighborhood built entirely around the stadium.

The Royals announced last month that they would make a decision on the new stadium location by the end of September. For now, the clock is ticking down on the Royals’ decision between downtown or NKC.

Economy

The Plaza Is In Debt

KC Daily

Recently, The Country Club Plaza's owners defaulted on almost $300 million in debt, raising concerns about the iconic retail center's future.

  • Who’s At Fault: After defaulting on the $259M acquisition loan on May 9, co-owners of the joint venture between Taubman Centers and The Macerich Co. which own the plaza, began negotiations with lender Nuveen to resolve the default on its loan. If a negotiation isn’t struck, it’s likely the Plaza would see new ownership.

  • For Rent: One potential reason for the financial struggle comes from the Plaza’s occupancy rates for vendors. In 2022, the Plaza struggled to fill its spaces with an 83% occupancy rate, a number that declined from 2021’s 84.9%.

  • Walking Shoes: One new direction the Plaza could chart, would be to follow the suggestion of Mayor Quinton Lucas and Urban Lab and become a pedestrian-only shopping district

While the future of the Plaza ownership remains in question, Kansas Citians can rest assured that the Plaza will remain a main center for commerce in the city. To read more about the situation, check out this article from the KC Business Journal.

Events

It’s All Greek To Me

Annunciation Greek Festival

Kansas City will celebrate the 61st annual Greek Festival this weekend off 120th and Wornall Road with free admission and parking.

  • All Greek To Me: The Greek Festival is a celebration of Greek Culture and all the cultural, culinary, religious, and musical gifts they have given the world.

  • A Fest Is Best: This Friday through Sunday, guests are invited to come and enjoy Greek food, live music, church tours, and dancing.

  • Music & Dance: This year’s festival will include music provided by Hellenic 5 Orchestra and Greek dancing by the Olympians Greek Folk Dance Troupe, which performed at the Kansas City Ballet last month.

The Festival will take place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church off 120th & Wornall. The Greek Fest will be open Friday from 6-10, Saturday from noon-10, and Sunday from noon-4.

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