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 Interactive map of Municipal Auditorium | |
| Location | 301 West 13th Street, Kansas City, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°05′54″N94°35′11″W / 39.098353°N 94.586416°W /39.098353; -94.586416 |
| Owner | City of Kansas City, Missouri |
| Operator | Kansas City, Missouri Convention and Entertainment Facilities |
| Capacity | Arena: 7,300 permanent +2,687 temporary[2] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1935 |
| Renovated | 2007, 2013 |
| Construction cost | $6.5 million ($149 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Gentry, Voskamp & Neville Hoit, Price & Barnes |
| Builder | Swenson Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas City Steers (ABL) (1961–1962) Kansas City-Omaha Kings (NBA) (1972–1974) Kansas City Sizzlers (CBA) (1985–1986) Kansas City Roos (NCAA) (1986–2010, 2012–present) Kansas City Attack (NPSL) (1991–1992) Kansas City Roller Warriors (WFTDA) (2009–2015) Kansas City Tornados (NAPB) (2018) Kansas City Goats (TAL) (2024) | |
Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility located inKansas City, Missouri. It opened in 1935 and featuresStreamline Moderne andArt Deco architecture and architectural details.
Municipal Auditorium was the first building built as part of the "Ten-Year Plan", a bond program that passed by a 4 to 1 margin in 1931. The campaign was run by the Civic Improvement Committee chaired by Conrad H. Mann. Other buildings in the plan included theKansas City City Hall and theKansas City branch of the Jackson County Courthouse. The plan was championed by most local politicians includingThomas Pendergast and provided Pendergast with many patronage opportunities during the Great Depression.[3]
Municipal Auditorium replacedConvention Hall which was directly across the street and was torn down for parking to create what is now called the Barney Allis Plaza.
Thestreamline moderne architecture was designed by the lead architectural firm of Alonzo H. Gentry, Voskamp & Neville. Gentry later completed the design of theHarry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum after the death of the original architect, Edward F. Neild. Homer F. Neville was the lead designer for Municipal Auditorium.[3]
Hoit, Price & Barnes, the associated architects were responsible for the design of the mechanical work (HVAC, electrical, plumbing). William L. Cassell directed that design effort.[4] Cassell went on to start his own firm in 1933 which is still in business as W. L. Cassell & Associates, Inc.[5]
Henry F. McElroy, the choice ofTom Pendergast and other Democratic leaders to be City Manager,[6] announced on January 5, 1932, that the architectural services for Municipal Auditorium would be divided between the firm of Gentry, Voskamp & Neville and the firm of Hoit, Price & Barnes.[4] In addition, Gentry's firm would take the lead. The decision was controversial and led to lengthy contract negotiations. Gentry's firm was much smaller, while Hoit, Price & Barnes were known for their work in designing theKansas City Power and Light Building, anArt Deco skyscraper completed in 1931; the 32-story Fidelity Bank Building at909 Walnut;Corinthian Hall; and many more Kansas City buildings and residences. Municipal Auditorium, however, was a public project and Gentry, whose father had been a prominent Democratic politician in Independence, was the preference of the Pendergast machine. According to Neville, there was little interference with the building's design.[3]
When the building opened in 1935, theArchitectural Record called it "one of the 10 best buildings of the world that year".[7] In 2000, the Princeton Architectural Press called it one of the 500 most important architectural works in the United States.[8]
Municipal Auditorium is connected to theH. Roe Bartle Convention Center via skywalks over 14th and Central streets. An underground walkway through a public parking garage provides access to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, and the Holiday Inn Aladdin Hotel.
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The Arena, nicknamed "Municipal", has hosted theMid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament annually, each March since 2003. When Kansas City hosts theBig 12 Conference tournament, women's games take place here. It is currently home to theNAIA Men's Division I Basketball National Tournament. It was played here from1937 to1974, when it moved into Kemper Arena, and has been home since the Tournament moved back to Kansas City from Tulsa in2002.
The arena hosted three of the first four Final Fours, and hosted its last NCAA tournament game in 1964.[9] In 2013, theUniversity of Dayton Arena passed Municipal Auditorium in number of games hosted as that arena hosts the opening round games of the NCAA tournament.
The 19,500-seatKemper Arena was built in 1974 to accommodate Kansas City's professional basketball teams that had been playing at the Auditorium. TheKansas City Kings (known at the time as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings) played their first two seasons at the Auditorium, then returned for the majority of the 1979–80 season after the roof of Kemper Arena caved in on June 4, 1979.
On November 13, 1979,Darryl Dawkins of thePhiladelphia 76ers completely shattered a backboard during a game vs. the Kings with a thunderousslam dunk.
It is home to theUniversity of Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroosbasketball team. Since January 2009, it has been the home of theKansas City Roller Warriorsroller derby league.[10]
The 2013 $5 million renovation included new video boards, LED scorer's table, sound system, lighting, electrical upgrades, and lower-level seating.[2]
The Kansas City Music Hall is a largeproscenium theatre with a strikingStreamline Modern interior that seats an audience of 2,400 patrons. The hall presents touringBroadway shows, as well as visitingsymphony orchestras,opera andballet companies, and other events. It was the main hall of the Kansas City Philharmonic for several decades. It's also the home of the 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ that originally was in theMidland Theatre. The organ is owned and maintained by Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, Inc.[11]
The Little Theatre is an elegant octagonalballroom with a capacity for 400, or banquet seating for 225 available for catered events, and a private balcony room for up to 36 guests.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none | Home of the Kansas City Goats 2024 | Succeeded by Current |
| Preceded by | Home of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (withOmaha Civic Auditorium) 1972 – 1974 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCAADivision I Men's Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 1940 – 1942 1953 – 1955 1957 1961 1964 | Succeeded by |
