Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City’s next big convention project begins with places that have already held generations of memories. A newly approved vision plan puts restoration at the center of an effort to prepare Bartle Hall, Municipal Auditorium and the Music Hall for decades of future use.
The first phase targets $75 million in improvements by 2028, from arena seating and restrooms to accessibility and historic preservation. It is the opening step in an estimated $500 million effort to improve the city’s convention spaces over the next decade.
Sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas, Resolution No. 260960 moves forward the Kansas City Convention Center and Municipal Auditorium Vision Plan. The work begins with restoring facilities across the complex while planning broader changes through 2036.
Voters helped set that process in motion in August when they approved Question 2, a $100 million bond measure. About $75 million was designated for the convention complex, providing the foundation for the initial improvements. That first investment is part of the larger estimated program.
“Kansas Citians voted to preserve our historic gathering spaces while equipping them with the technology and amenities to be competitive in our region and globally,” Lucas said.
The first phase combines everyday visitor needs with work on the buildings themselves. Plans call for modernized arena seating, upgraded restrooms and concessions, and better accessibility. Preservation of the Music Hall is also included, along with exterior improvements connecting the building to Barney Allis Plaza.
Municipal Auditorium will also become the new home of UMKC basketball, adding a university sports role to the historic venue’s next chapter. Alongside that change, the planned improvements address how people enter, move through and use the facilities.
Lucas tied the investment to the people and businesses supported by conventions and entertainment.
“Our convention and entertainment facilities support thousands of Kansas City jobs and dozens of industries that welcome millions of residents and guests each year,” he said.
He also pointed to the long history behind the project, noting that Municipal Auditorium and the Music Hall have hosted major Kansas City moments for nearly a century.
The later phases would extend beyond the initial restoration work. Planned through 2036, they would connect and modernize the broader Convention Center campus, including new gathering and exhibit spaces across its facilities.
For now, the clearest milestone is 2028. The initial $75 million phase gives the city a starting point for updating familiar venues, while the broader vision sets out how those spaces could continue serving Kansas City well into the future.
