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A timeline of the American Royal's history

The American Royal is much more than a BBQ competition

The American Royal and Kansas City: Two players, one past, two futures

In one corner, you have the city of Kansas City, Missouri. A city with a rich history in livestock and cattle – especially during the 1900s – but one that has since focused more on technology, street cars, and a fancy new events center. The people of Kansas City are a divided lot. People living here who are in favor of a new reputation for the city are anxious for the new and want little to do with the old, and certainly nothing to do with cows. Others want to hold on to history and make it a part of the city’s future.

In the other corner, you have the American Royal. A nonprofit started in 1899, it draws people from all over for livestock competitions, horse shows, rodeos and a barbecue competition. It gives scholarships and prize money to stand-out competitors, and it supports and encourages the agriculture life. It exists because of the city’s Cowtown history, and it has struggled as the city – and some would say the nation – has moved in a different direction.

Times have changed. Now both are searching for relevant futures which, on the surface, don’t look to mesh.

The Move

After more than a century in Kansas City, Missouri, the American Royal is moving from the city’s historic West Bottoms to newly-thriving Wyandotte County, Kansas. It has a new mission statement, renewed focus and energy, and will soon have a new home, despite a long lease with the City of Kansas City.

The American Royal said the new complex will include arena space, exhibit space, a barn/expo space, and a new agriculture education center and museum.

“We have a strong partnership with Kansas City, Missouri,” said Angie Stanland, Chairman of the American Royal Board. “We have a lease until 2045 and they are our current home and will be our home as we go through this process. I’d be remiss to say if we weren’t sad that Kemper Arena is not part of the American Royal complex anymore. It’s hurt us a little bit with some of our equestrian shows. But if the city feels the move that they’ve made is a successful move, we are incredibly supportive.”

The “move” Stanland is referencing is the one announced earlier this year, the one some feel was a definitive blow to the American Royal and its current location. The city, along with local developer Foutch Brothers, declared a new future for Kemper Arena as a youth sports complex. Kemper, of course, is one of the buildings listed in the lease for use by the American Royal, even if only for a handful of days each year. The new plans for Kemper include selling it to Foutch Brothers and changing the structure so much that the American Royal could no longer use it. But those plans were contingent on Kemper receiving historic status from the National Register of Historic Places.

Click to move through a timeline of the American Royal.

Timeline information courtesy the Missouri Historical Society.

On September 9, the application for historic designation was signed and Kemper Arena was added to the Register. The designation paved the way for the city and Foutch Brothers to move forward with their plans for Kemper. But what would that mean for the American Royal?

“It certainly hampered our growth and any expansion we may have in the West Bottoms. And it does hamper us from some of our larger equestrian events. But we’re working through that. It’s not ideal, but as long as we have (the city’s) support, particularly in the next 3 to 5 years, I think it will work well,” said Stanland.

The American Royal’s move to Kansas is about relevancy for an organization that had seen declining ticket sales, crumbling facilities at the hands of the landlord – the city -- and a loss of its largest event space, Kemper Arena.

Mayor Sly James issued a statement on the American Royal decision:

"As we close this chapter of the American Royal’s story here in Kansas City, Missouri, I’m reminded of our City’s proud agricultural heritage and am appreciative of the partnership we’ve had with the American Royal for generations. I wish the Royal the absolute best and look forward to seeing what the future holds for the organization. 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. The success of emerging neighborhoods, like the West Bottoms, is critical to our City’s ability to continually reinvent itself in order to remain competitive. I’m committed to working with the City Manager and Council to make the West Bottoms as lively as it was when the first American Royal Show debuted in 1905."

The American Royal has spent the past year redirecting. Its leaders have worked to figure out their future in a lot more ways than just location.

The New Mission

“The Board of Directors and executive committee and staff spent a lot of time this year redefining and identifying the relevance of the American Royal today,” said American Royal President and CEO Lynn Parman.

The Royal’s new mission statement is to impact the future of agriculture.

“Whether that’s through our competitions where kids from all over the country come to cultivate their dreams, or the scholarships that we provide to kids to further their education, or the learning - having curriculum in 3rd grade classrooms in Kansas City schools. When you look at the future of agriculture, we’re really in the center of it,” said Parman.

The American Royal touts its contribution of more than $1 million a year to support education and scholarships, with its “World Series of Barbecue” being the biggest fundraiser.

Kansas City's barbeque tradition and history is second to none.

The organization’s leaders hope they can expand on what they already do with a new home in Wyandotte County.

“It will allow us to realize our mission in a way that is so much more profound,” said Parman.

Some of Parman’s examples are similar to what they do now, but on a larger scale. They can hold school tours every day of the week instead of just allotted times in the fall. They would have the ability to host kids from all over the country year round in the new Ag Education Center to teach and get them excited about agriculture. But it would also allow them to grow significantly outside of their current role in agriculture.

“To be an agriculture events mecca,” said Parman, with a look of obvious passion.

Then there’s the business development aspect.

The Bigger Picture

Charlie Tetrick is the Chair-Elect for the American Royal and will likely be chairman when the move to Kansas happens. He focused on an even bigger picture than just projects and programs, and saw the economic opportunities in agriculture he thinks the Royal can help facilitate.

“Kansas has nearly $5 billion in agriculture exports around the country and the world. So doing $5 billion today, just imagine where this can go if we just actually embrace this,” said Tetrick.

RELATED | TRIVIA: Do you know your American Royal history?

“New York can have the financial, Carolinas have what’s going on in health care, Silicon Valley is in California” he said. “The Midwest needs to own agriculture. We think the Kansas City region has got the real chance to embrace this and make a huge future for it.”

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback was instrumental in recruiting the American Royal to Kansas.

"Kansas is commited to providing opportunities to encourage additional growth and expansion of agriculture in the state and far beyond its borders," said Gov. Brownback.

The American Royal hopes to be a catalyst for that growth, enticing big businesses to move here.

The Support

The State of Kansas played a huge part in the Royal’s decision.

“They’ve been aggressive in inviting us to come to the state,” said Stanland.

Mariner Kemper, carrying the family namesake for Kemper Arena, has been an outspoken proponent of the American Royal’s future.

“There are some great things going on around the land that we’ve identified,” Kemper said. “There are great things happening regarding our private fundraising activity. And there’s really, really good leadership that has formed a base - a foundation - around this project. And I couldn’t be more excited. The future is super bright for the American Royal with this move. I’m super jazzed as we think about the next 100 years, the next 50 years of the American Royal and where we go from here as we take everything to the next level.”

Kemper went on to thank the State of Kansas and the governor for backing the American Royal.

“We are really feeling the love and very excited about this new partnership.”

The New Location

The new location for the American Royal will be in Wyandotte County, Kansas, is projected to be just west of Village West (The Legends, the Kansas Speedway, and the Sporting KC facility).

The board says it is considering three different locations, and has concept boards to show how they envision the facilities.

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</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Concept images of the new facilities courtesy the American Royal.

This would be a $160 million project, of which $80 million is planned thru STAR bonds, according to Governor Brownback. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County will be voting on the STAR bond district in the days to come.

They announced the potential location for the special district to be between 110th Street and 118th Street, between State Ave. and Parallel Pkwy.

</p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Map courtesy Google Earth

Cliff Illig, a major donor and supporter of American Royal, said this will create Village West as a true destination for many, many more events than just agriculture, citing 300,000 square feet of event space which can be used year round. Mayor Mark Holland said sales peak during sporting events and races. He believes a year round events space like what the American Royal is proposing would generate year round sales for the nearby retail and restaurants.

All involved at the American Royal insist this is not a denouncement of Kansas City, Missouri, regardless of any moves the city made.

“I think that the city realizes, as well as the state of Kansas, the American Royal is a regional American Royal. Much like the Chiefs or Sporting or the Royals,” said Stanland. (In fact, the Kansas City Royals are named for the American Royal.)

Kemper agreed.

“It’s going to be really great for the whole Kansas City region… Both Missouri and Kansas will be able to continue to call American Royal their own. And as it’s a draw for the whole region, as everything we do across the state line does for the greater Kansas City area,” said Kemper.

The Contract

As for the contract, which is supposed to allow the American Royal use of the not only Kemper but the other buildings to the south of Kemper for another 29 years, Stanland is sure they’ll come to an agreement.

“The contract is there, but I think we have a strong working relationship and the city is supportive,” said Stanland.

41 Action News asked for comment from Kansas City's City Manager Troy Schulte on the lease agreement with the Royal. We were told by the communication's director Schulte is out of town and that the mayor's reaction will be the main city response.

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Christa Dubill can be reached at Christa.Dubill@kshb.com.

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