The conversion of Kemper Arena to Mosaic Arena began Tuesday, when officials celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the $39 million project.
Under a plan that is being developed by Foutch Brothers, the venerable arena will be converted into a two-level facility that is capable of hosting multiple amateur sporting events. The project is expected to be completed in 2018 and Mosaic Life Care, which is slated to put a health clinic at the site, will see its branding placed on the arena’s name.
This is a major step for a Kansas City facility that originally opened in 1974, and served as a hub for major events in the city for decades. The groundbreaking ceremony came after plenty of steps in previous months that helped move the project forward. More from The Kansas City Star:
Kansas City turned Kemper over to Foutch Brothers for $1, saving the city more than $1.2 million a year in maintenance costs.
The arena is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Foutch Brothers has a track record of restoring and repurposing old structures.
The American Royal Association, which plans to move to Wyandotte County, last month dropped its lease claim to the arena for 20 days a year.
The venue was once home to the last NBA and NHL franchises. The NBA’s Kansas City Kings played games there through 1985, while the NHL’s Kansas City Scouts had a much shorter run at the venue, lasting from 1974-1976.
Rendering courtesy Foutch Brothers.
RELATED STORIES: Sale for Kemper Arena Project Moves Forward; Kemper Arena Developer Backed by Analysis; Kemper Arena Wins Preservation Status; Mosaic Purchases Kemper Arena Naming Rights
