Kansas City is preparing for an influx of visitors this summer as the city hosts six World Cup matches in June and July. Local officials expect tens of thousands of soccer fans to arrive, putting pressure on hotels, restaurants, and transit systems.
Barbecue restaurants along Main Street and in the Crossroads district have already started extending hours and hiring additional staff. At Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, a manager said Friday that reservations for match days are nearly filled. Average brisket plates now run about $18, with prices holding steady despite higher demand.
Jazz clubs, a longstanding fixture in the city, are also gearing up. The Green Lady Lounge has scheduled early evening sets to accommodate visitors looking for live music after daytime matches. On a recent Saturday, tables were full by 8 p.m. as out-of-towners mixed with regulars.
Hotel operators report that bookings for late June are running 80% above the same period last year. Midtown boutique hotels are adding shuttle service to and from Arrowhead Stadium. Some short-term rental owners have raised nightly rates by as much as 30% for the tournament period.
Kansas City’s tourism office has released an updated dining map and is staffing pop-up information booths downtown. As spring turns to summer, local businesses are balancing World Cup planning with the city’s usual festival schedule, which includes the annual Boulevardia street fair next month.