Kansas City, Mo. - The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA) announced today several key convention bookings for Kansas City, all secured in the first half of 2014. Collectively, these eight bookings are estimated to attract 50,600 attendees and generate a local economic impact of more than $67 million.
The largest booking announced today is the Junior Volleyball Association World Challenge. The competition will be held in the metro area for the first time in April 2016—bringing approximately 15,000 attendees, 11,000 room nights and an economic impact of more than $7.5 million.
“The Junior Volleyball Association is looking forward to the 2016 JVA World Challenge in Kansas City,” said Jenny Hahn, JVA Executive Director. “We chose KC because our participants love a location that is centrally located, a nice convention center for the tournament and lots of great food and entertainment right outside the door.”
Another sports group, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), also selected Kansas City. The “World’s Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches” returns to KC in January 2019, attracting 10,000 attendees, 8,700 room nights and an economic impact of $7.2 million. Headquartered in Kansas City, the NSCAA last met here in 2012.
"The NSCAA has called Kansas City home for more than 20 years, and we are happy to again showcase our hometown during the 2019 Convention," NSCAA CEO Joe Cummings said. "Since 2012 when we last hosted the convention here, the city and Visit KC have shown why this region is an emerging hub for soccer in the U.S. I'm sure our 10,000 attendees will see why in four years."
Other major conventions announced today:
“There’s a lot of excitement in the market for our destination,” said Ronnie Burt, KCCVA President & CEO. “We know from research that KC ranks high with meeting planners in service and hospitality. We want to continue to build on this momentum to showcase KC to the nation.”