Kansas City Convention Center

What Kansas City Convention Center does

The Kansas City Convention Center is a municipally owned and operated event and entertainment complex located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, serving corporate meeting planners, association organizers, trade show exhibitors, performing arts touring productions, and social event/wedding clients. The venue is operated by the Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Facilities, a public-sector entity under the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and comprises eight interconnected venues totaling over 800,000 square feet: Bartle Exhibit Hall (388,800 sq ft of column-free exhibit space), the Conference Center, Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom (expandable to 46,400 sq ft for up to 4,000 guests), the Meeting Room Series 2100/2200 (62,000+ sq ft across 26 rooms), The LEX Lower Exhibition Hall (46,000 sq ft), the 1936 Art Deco Music Hall (2,363 seats) housing a 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ, the Little Theatre, and the Municipal Arena (10,721 capacity). The complex connects to major downtown hotels via walkway system and includes 1,000 underground parking spaces beneath Bartle Hall.

The venue's underlying technology stack consists of physical event infrastructure—programmable lighting systems with individual unit control, state-of-the-art projection in the three registration lobbies totaling 53,300+ sq ft, high-speed wireless Internet across all 26 meeting rooms, professional sound systems, and simultaneous taping capability—rather than software or platform technology. Architectural differentiators include a controllable natural day-lighting system and 38-foot glass wall in the Grand Ballroom, LEED-oriented eco-friendly construction, and irreplaceable historic assets. The facility holds GBAC STAR accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council.

The business model is venue-space rental as a one-time transaction per event, supplemented by exclusive catering arrangements (Loews Catering, contracted in 2020 for food and beverage across the Conference Center complex), ticketing revenue via an exclusive Ticketmaster partnership, and parking fees. Distribution is primarily enterprise field sales with dedicated account management targeting corporate meeting planners, association executives, show organizers, and wedding coordinators, supplemented by an Online RFP submission system on the website. Marketing is multi-channel including the website, Facebook and Instagram, event sponsorships, and downloadable resource guides. Notable enterprise customers include Jamf (JNUC, 16+ year anchor), AAFP, AVID Center, IRPT, Triple Crown PickleCon, and Broadway touring productions including Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.

Name

Kansas City Convention Center

Legal name

Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Facilities

Website

https://kcconvention.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kansas City Convention Center is a municipally owned multi-venue event complex in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, operating 800,000+ square feet across eight interconnected spaces anchored by the 388,800 sq ft Bartle Exhibit Hall, serving corporate meeting planners, trade show organizers, performing arts touring productions, and social event clients with enterprise field sales and exclusive catering and ticketing partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Convention venue rental
• Exhibition space hosting
• Corporate event planning
• Performing arts venue
• Meeting room facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Venue Space Rental: Revenue generated from renting various venue spaces including exhibit halls, ballrooms, meeting rooms, and specialty theaters to event organizers, corporations, and individuals for conventions, trade shows, meetings, weddings, and performances.
2. Exclusive Catering Services: Loews Catering provides exclusive catering, alcohol service, and concessions for the Conference Center including the Grand Ballroom/2501, South Plaza, meeting rooms 1500, 2500, and 3500. This arrangement provides a consistent revenue stream through preferred vendor relationships.
3. Ticket Sales: The venue serves as a ticketed event venue, partnering with Ticketmaster for show tickets. Revenue includes facility fees and service charges on ticket sales for performing arts events and concerts.
4. Parking Services: The facility offers parking services including 1,000 underground parking spaces connected to Bartle Hall, providing additional revenue from event attendees and visitors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Kansas City Convention Center rents event venue space across a connected multi-venue complex including Bartle Exhibit Hall, Conference Center, Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom, 26 meeting rooms, The LEX, Music Hall, Little Theatre, and Municipal Arena for conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, performing arts events, weddings, and sporting events. The facility provides supporting infrastructure such as high-speed wireless internet, programmable lighting, professional sound systems, projection equipment, and exclusive catering through Loews Catering, along with 1,000 underground parking spaces connected to downtown hotels.

Product overview

The Kansas City Convention Center operates a portfolio of eight distinct venue spaces offering event hosting services. The flagship Bartle Exhibit Hall provides 388,800 square feet of column-free exhibit space, while the Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom offers 46,400 square feet for large-scale events. The facility includes the Meeting Room Series 2100 and 2200 with 26 renovated rooms totaling over 62,000 square feet, the Conference Center for complementary meeting space, The LEX Lower Exhibition Hall with 46,000 square feet, the Art Deco Music Hall theater seating 2,363, the Little Theatre for intimate events, and Municipal Arena for sports and large gatherings. The venues are connected to downtown hotels and parking facilities, with Loews Catering serving as the exclusive catering provider for the Conference Center complex.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bartle Exhibit Hall (A-E) A massive exhibition hall spanning 388,800 square feet of column-free exhibit space on one floor (equivalent to eight football fields), connecting to major downtown hotels and including 1,000 underground parking spaces. Designed for large-scale conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions.
• Conference Center A versatile conference facility that complements event and meeting space at the Exhibit Hall or serves as a stand-alone venue for smaller conferences, meetings, and special events. Includes exclusive Loews Catering service.
• Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom (2501) A 40,500-square-foot ballroom expandable to 46,400 square feet for events up to 4,000 people, featuring a controllable natural lighting system, a 38-foot-high glass wall with views of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and connects to the Conference Center for additional breakout rooms.
• Meeting Room Series 2100 and 2200 More than 62,000 square feet of meeting space divided among 26 newly renovated rooms on Bartle Hall Level 2, accommodating more than 6,000 people. Features high-speed wireless Internet, professional sound systems, simultaneous taping, carpeting, and programmable lighting with individual control over each light unit.
• The LEX (Lower Exhibition Hall) 46,000 square feet of space on two levels for exhibitors, catered functions, and special events located inside Municipal Auditorium. Features 28,000 gross square feet, 22,000 net square feet, 23-foot ceiling height, and direct access from the Auditorium Plaza Garage.
• Music Hall An Art Deco theater opened in 1936, one of the nation's finest theaters, seating 2,363 patrons. Home to the 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ. Suitable for special convention presentations, general sessions, and featured entertainment including Broadway touring productions.
• The Little Theatre An intimate, elegant ballroom and octagon-shaped venue with gleaming marble facade. Features exterior promenade, balcony, permanent stage area, theater seating for up to 400 people, and banquet seating for 220. One of four self-contained venues in the Municipal Auditorium complex.
• Municipal Arena A multi-purpose arena with 7,316 permanent seats, 2,405 additional riser seats, and capacity for 1,000 theater-style on the main floor (total 10,721 capacity). Has hosted over 80 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games including 9 Final Fours, and is the permanent home of the NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
• Barney Allis Plaza Outdoor plaza venue adjacent to the Convention Center complex, accessible from the southeast corner of the Kay Barnes Grand Ballroom, used for outdoor events and connected to the Barney Allis Plaza redevelopment initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games have been played in the Municipal Arena, including 9 Final Fours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Loews CateringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Loews Catering is the exclusive provider of catering, alcohol service, and concessions for the Conference Center including the Grand Ballroom/2501, South Plaza, meeting rooms 1500, 2500, and 3500 and adjacent pre-function spaces. This exclusive arrangement took effect in spring 2020, providing comprehensive food and beverage services for events in these specified areas.
• TicketmastercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTicketmaster serves as the exclusive ticketing partner for shows and events at the Municipal Auditorium. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 1-800-745-3000, providing comprehensive ticketing services for performing arts events.
• Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, Inc. owns and maintains the historic 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ housed in the Music Hall. This partnership preserves the unique acoustic asset and maintains the venue's historic character.
• Barney Allis Plaza Redevelopment ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe venue is connected to the Barney Allis Plaza redevelopment initiative, which aims to enhance the outdoor event spaces adjacent to the convention center complex.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minneapolis Convention Center: Minneapolis Convention Center provides a similar large-scale exhibit hall, ballroom and meeting room portfolio targeting Midwest corporate and association events.
• America's Center Convention Complex: St. Louis's America's Center is a comparable multi-venue convention complex competing for the same Midwest association and trade-show RFPs as Kansas City.
• Indiana Convention Center: Indianapolis's Indiana Convention Center offers large connected exhibit hall and meeting room inventory comparable to KC's Bartle Hall complex and competes for the same regional conventions.
• Kentucky International Convention Center: Louisville's Kentucky International Convention Center recently underwent a major $200M+ renovation and competes directly for association conventions and trade shows in the Midwest/South region.
• McCormick Place: Chicago's McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America and the most direct comparable to Kansas City Convention Center in terms of large-scale trade show, corporate convention and exhibition hosting in the Midwest.
• George R. Brown Convention Center: Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center is a large multi-venue complex with comparable exhibit halls, ballrooms and performing arts facilities, representative of the broader tier of US municipal convention complexes.
• CHI Health Center Omaha: Omaha's CHI Health Center combines an arena and convention facilities comparable to KC's Municipal Arena and exhibit halls, competing for the same regional sports and convention business.

Regional players

• Overland Park Convention Center: Overland Park Convention Center sits in the Kansas City metro and competes for smaller-to-mid-sized corporate and social events that might otherwise be hosted at the KC Convention Center.

Broad incumbents

• Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: Also located in downtown Kansas City, the Kauffman Center is a premier performing arts venue competing for symphony, ballet and touring Broadway productions that might otherwise book the Music Hall.
• T-Mobile Center: Kansas City's downtown arena competes with the Municipal Arena for concerts and major spectator events, representing an in-market alternative for touring productions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kcconventioncenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/kcconventions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-city-convention-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kansas City Convention Center