Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC Announce Shared Office in Downtown Kansas City

Joint space to provide additional opportunities for collaboration and mutual strategic goals

KANSAS CITY, MO (September 1, 2023) — Today, the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to generating economic and community impact through sports, and Visit KC, Kansas City’s official sales and marketing organization responsible for positioning Kansas City as a visitor and conference destination, announced they would both relocate to a single office space at 1111 Main in downtown Kansas City.

 

Shared Vision

 

In January of 2022, after a decade of serving as President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission, Kathy Nelson accepted the same role for Visit KC, making her the first dual CEO in the history of either organization. As part of her selection process, a committee comprised of Sports Commission and Visit KC board members delineated unique differentiators and shared goals for the two entities. The committee concluded the organizations should remain distinct, while working to become even more collaborative. One of the key recommendations was housing both organizations under the same roof to foster synergy, efficiency and mutual success.

 

“As soon as I began working with the Visit KC staff, it was immediately apparent they shared the same qualities as my Sports Commission team: talented, hardworking and united in a collective love for Kansas City and the work we’re doing,” says Nelson. “I knew if we could get everyone in one office, the possibilities would be endless. After an exhaustive search, I’m excited to begin this next chapter and I know Kansas City will benefit for years to come. We are grateful for the support and partnership of our previous facilities at the Kansas City Power & Light District and Crown Center.”

 

Dynamic Space

 

Located on the 34th floor of 1111 Main, formerly known as the Town Pavilion building, the new office was sourced by real estate broker Colliers. With 14,830 of square feet, it will feature an open area with low cubicles inspired by the newsrooms Nelson worked in during her broadcast and cable television career.

“We are honored to have assisted the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC with identifying their new combined headquarters,” says Jeff Winters, Senior Vice President of Colliers. “This will be a signature location for these iconic Kansas City organizations.” 

 

Helix Architecture + Design, a Kansas City-based and woman-owned firm, is in charge of creating the floorplan and design elements. The layout incorporates a large, shared office space, with Visit KC on one side and the Sports Commission on the other, private offices, breakout rooms, conference rooms and a shared hospitality area for meals or small gatherings. With unique branding and one-of-a-kind memorabilia, storytelling is layered throughout the space to craft a memorable experience for visitors and employees.

 

Initial renderings are available here.

 

“We are excited to extend a warm welcome to the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC at their new home in 1111 Main. This strategic location will enhance their efforts in promoting Kansas City to local, regional, and global audiences alike,” says Jon Copaken, Principal of Copaken Brooks and representative of the building’s ownership group. “As the metropolitan area's largest Class A office building, we take pride in fostering an environment that mirrors the city's growth and aspirations.”

 

Perfect Timing

 

With critical infrastructure improvements like the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport and the current construction to expand the KC Streetcar line, as well as a track record of acquiring respected events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kansas City’s momentum is producing increased opportunity for the Sports Commission and Visit KC to attract additional business to the region. During the highly successful NFL Draft, the largest event Kansas City has hosted, both organizations worked together more closely than ever before, resulting in optimized strategies and tactics for marketing, social media, earned media and event support. 

 

“Having served as a board member for both the Sports Commission and Visit KC, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of the work these two organizations are doing in our community,” says Stacey Paine, President of Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation. “Crown Center is a favorite visitor destination with 1,500 hotel rooms, which serve convention attendees, sports fans and leisure travelers. This combined office space, we believe, will help these organizations generate even more business on behalf of Kansas City.”

 

The Kansas City Sports Commission, one of the largest and most successful organizations of its kind in the country, has 14 full-time employees and recently assumed responsibility for Hospital Hill Run, Kansas City’s oldest road race. Visit KC currently has 36 full-time employees. As Visit KC continues to generate incremental demand and dramatic growth in the convention and leisure markets, it will incorporate additional staffing to effectively brand the destination as a vibrant and creative community, connect travelers, promote local businesses and support and promote local events. The new office space is optimized to meet these evolving needs.

“The Power & Light District has been a longtime partner with both Visit KC and the Kansas City Sports Commission. KC is a city on the rise. Downtown is now home to 36,000 residents, and we continue to attract millions of visitors each year due to great sports events like the Big 12 Basketball Championships, a growing number of conventions, and a whole lot more,” says John Moncke, President of the Kansas City Power & Light District. “We support Kathy’s vision to bring both organizations under one roof, and we will continue to support both organizations during this pivotable moment for our city.”

Construction on the new office is projected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

For more information about the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation, visit sportkc.org. For more information about Visit KC, go to VisitKC.com.

About the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation

The mission of the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation is to drive Kansas City’s overall sports strategy, to enrich the quality of life, create economic impact and raise visibility for our region. As a privately-funded nonprofit, we are entirely dependent on your support. For the latest on Kansas City Sports Commission news, follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Also follow the Garmin Kansas City Marathon on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

 

About Visit KC

Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. Core to its mission is advancing the quality of life of Kansas City and ensuring the sustainability of our community. Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 41,000 local jobs and $1.8 billion in wages. Visit KC positions Kansas City as a visitor and conference destination to drive leisure and convention business, welcome & connect travelers, promote local businesses and support local events. Visit KC drives 24.5 million visitors to our destination annually with tourism generating $5.3 billion in annual economic impact for the region. For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com.

 

About Copaken Brooks

Copaken Brooks is a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Kansas City and serving the Midwest. For over 100 years, the company has maintained a national client base with a full suite of services including development, asset management, owner’s representation, property management, investment acquisition and sales, tenant representation and HQ relocations, and leasing (office, retail, medical, industrial, and underground). Learn more at copaken-brooks.com.

Media Contacts

Devin Aaron
Devin Aaron 
(National/International Media)
Visit KC
816-691-3805
daaron@visitkc.com
Makenzie Wolters
Makenzie Wolters 
(Kansas City/Regional Media)
Visit KC
816-691-3811
mwolters@visitkc.com

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