Hy-Vee Arena
Hy-Vee Arena,[2] previously known as Kemper Arena, is an indoor arena located in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to conversion to a youth sports and community gymnasium facility, Kemper Arena was previously a 19,500-seat professional sports arena. It has hosted NCAA Final Four basketball games, professional basketball and hockey teams, professional wrestling events, the 1976 Republican National Convention, concerts, and is the ongoing host of the American Royal livestock show.
Former names
Kemper Arena (1974–2018)
Mosaic Arena (2017)
1800 Genessee St
Kansas City, Missouri, US
Foutch Brothers LLC
- 17,513 (1988–1997)
- 19,500 (1997–2016)
- 8,500 (2018–present)
July 17, 1972
September 30, 1974
1976, 1987, 1996, 2017–2018
$23 million
($168 million in 2023 dollars[1])
September 17, 2017
October 5, 2018
$39 million
Foutch Architecture and Development
McCownGordon Construction
September 9, 2016
It was originally named for Rufus Crosby Kemper Sr., a member of the powerful Kemper financial clan and who donated $3.2 million from his estate for the arena. In 2016, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its revolutionary design by Helmut Jahn.[3]
Conversion to youth sports and community gym facility[edit]
In 2017–18, the arena underwent a $29 million renovation by Foutch Architecture and Development LLC to be converted into a youth sports facility.[19] The renovated arena features 12 mixed-use hardwood basketball courts, four on the lower level and eight on the new upper level, and a 350-meter indoor running track.[20] Each level also has spaces for retail services and commercial office space. The renovated arena was previously set to be known as Mosaic Arena as a result of a naming rights sponsorship by Mosaic Life Care; however, Mosaic Life Care released its naming rights sponsorship in December 2017.[21][22][23] On May 17, 2018, Midwestern grocery store chain Hy-Vee secured the naming rights, making the arena's official name Hy-Vee Arena.[24]
American Royal[edit]
The American Royal Association formerly hosted livestock events at Kemper starting when it was first constructed. The Royal also helped pay for the original building. Its offices were located in the building along with the American Royal Museum. The Royal moved to a new complex that includes Hale Arena.