Sprint Center Expected to Draw 250K To Downtown Kansas City This Week

By Autumn MorningSky
Sprint Center expects to draw at least a quarter of a million visitors to downtown Kansas City during the next week.
The events kick off Wednesday morning, marking the arena’s fifth anniversary. Highlights include an NBA preseason game Wednesday between the Washington Wizards and the Miami Heat, for which a few tickets remain, as well as sold-out concerts by Justin Beiber on Friday, the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Saturday, and Madonna, who will perform her first concert in Missouri on Tuesday.
“We’re closing 2012 with fabulous returning guests,” said Shani Tate, the arena’s vice president of marketing, communications and ticket sales.
Sprint Center has sold about 100,000 tickets for the various events, Tate said. On top of that, she expects visitors seeking to buy merchandise or take part in a series of related activities.
“We’re encouraging people to come early,” Tate said.
Nearby restaurant Johnny’s Tavern is increasing its staff and stocking up by three times what’s typical, according to Managing Partner Nick McMillian.
“We have to have staff to accommodate everyone, and that’s tough,” he said. “We have to keep rotating our staff and keep them happy, otherwise we’re not going to give good service.”
On a normal Friday, Johnny’s would have one manager, one bartender, eight servers and six cooks. This Friday, it will have three managers, five bartenders, 14 servers, eight cooks and two door men. However, he said employees always want to work event nights.
“That’s where we make our money,” he said.
Events connected with the Sprint Center shows include Wednesday’s NBA Nation, part of the NBA’s grassroots marketing effort, and the Grammy Museum Experience, which will honor the arena’s anniversary and be hosted by AEG CEO Tim Leiweke and The Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli. The Grammy Museum Experience is an interactive area that demonstrates music’s creation, technology, history and other facets.
Wednesday events also include an H&R Block Party from 4-7 p.m. on Grand Boulevard, preceding the 7:30 p.m. NBA game.