After more than 100 years in Kansas City, Missouri, the American Royal will have a new home in Kansas City, Kansas.
The American Royal Association announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement with the state of Kansas and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County to relocate to KCK next to the Village West shopping district.
"We are excited to welcome our patrons to a facility we design and build exclusively for them," says Angie Stanland, American Royal board chairwoman.
The new $160 million facility will feature arena and exhibit space, barn and expo space and an agriculture education center and museum. They hope the events center will be used year-round and attract outside events beyond the American Royal's 14-week calendar.
"This is going to be fantastic. We're going to see companies, agricultural technology coming into the region," Kansas Governor Sam Brownback said at a news conference.
In a release, Brownback said he hopes Kansas City will become a world leader in agriculture and animal genetics. He hopes the American Royal will help continue to build an agriculture corridor from Wyandotte County to Manhattan, Kansas.
In a separate release, Kansas City Mayor Sly James said he wished the best for the American Royal.
"We can absolutely keep our fond memories of the American Royal alive, while honoring our past and preparing for our next chapter as an entrepreneurial, high tech and innovative community of the future," James says.
Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Mark Holland says now that private conversations are wrapping up, the public phase of project planning will begin. The Unified Government will vote Thursday to schedule a hearing to hear public testimony on STAR bonds.
This would the the fourth project in the area funded by STAR bonds. The first, the Kansas Speedway, is already generating revenue for the county, Holland says.
Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter for KCUR 89.3. Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig. Elle Moxley also contributed to this report.
