The former Kemper Arena in Kansas City has a new name, as it is now known as Hy-Vee Arena.
Foutch Architecture and Development is currently undertaking a $39 million renovation to the venue, which originally opened as Kemper Arena in 1974. At one point, the venue was slated to reopen as Mosaic Arena as the result of an agreement with Mosaic Life Care, but that plan was scrapped late last year.
Foutch Architecture and Development, in partnership with Hy-Vee Inc., announced the Hy-Vee Arena name on Thursday.
The agreement with the supermarket chain includes exclusive naming rights and other partnership benefits, including prominent interior and exterior Hy-Vee signage throughout the arena as well as state-of-the-art video board logo placement.
“The commitment of Hy-Vee is a symbolic step for our re-purposing of this historic facility,” said Steve Foutch, chief executive officer of Foutch Architecture and Development. “Hy-Vee embodies the criteria we set out in finding a naming rights partner and their reputation for excellence in customer service and community involvement is the ideal fit for our venue.”
Drew Holmes, Hy-Vee’s senior regional vice president of the Kansas City market/southwest region, said the company’s exceptional customer service extends beyond the aisles of the grocery store.
“This partnership is the intersection of sports, health, recreation, economic opportunity and civic improvement. We are committed to projects and organizations that support these outreach goals in the cities we serve,” said Holmes. “Hy-Vee Arena is a perfect way for us to celebrate our 30 years of service in the metro area, and it will be a fitting extension of our brand in the heart of Kansas City.”
Historic Kemper Arena was constructed 1973–1974 on the site of the former Kansas City Stockyards just west of downtown in the West Bottoms. The building was revolutionary at the time in its simplicity and the fact it did not have interior columns obstructing views. In 2016, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is currently undergoing a $39 million renovation by Foutch Architecture and Development.
Upon opening in September, Hy-Vee Arena will be the first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art sports environment and hub for hundreds of local, regional and national tournaments each year. The arena design includes the addition of a second floor providing over 84,000 square feet of sports and event space. In addition to the two floors of column-free hardwood floors, one of the largest indoor tracks in the United States, measuring 350 meters, will be perched over the new 52,000-square-foot second floor.
Specialty businesses within the facility will include speed and agility training, cross-fit, a fitness gym, hydrotherapy, golf simulators, e-gaming, dining, retail and commercial offices.
RELATED STORIES: Kemper Arena Renovation Remains on Track; Kemper Arena Begins Conversion to Mosaic Arena; Sale for Kemper Arena Project Moves Forward; Kemper Arena Developer Backed by Analysis; Kemper Arena Wins Preservation Status; Mosaic Purchases Kemper Arena Naming Rights
