The Hy-Vee Arena has seen various stages of purpose + use in the Historic West Bottoms. What started purely as an entertainment venue now serves the community through sporting events, public amenities, and opportunities for local businesses.
Editor Bella took a stroll with Hy-Vee Arena sales executive Emma Ludwig to learn more about what the space has to offer — plus, some reminiscing on how it’s evolved over several decades.
The history
Does Kemper Arena ring a bell? What we now know as the Hy-Vee Arena didn’t actually start that way. Kemper opened in 1974 and operated under that name until its 2017 renovation. Throughout the 1980s, the arena served as a mecca for college basketball and other KC sports teams like the Kings (hey, SACtoday).
The arena underwent a $29 million renovation to be converted into a youth sports facility and reopened in 2018 under its new name. Now, it serves as the nation’s first multi-level, multi-functional sports complex, with ~233,000 annual visitors.
The specs
The arena is equipped with two separate floors encompassing over 82,000 sqft — featuring 12 hardwood maple courts striped for NBA, collegiate, and high school regulation. The courts can also be lined for volleyball, futsal, and pickleball. Plus, the space has one of the longest indoor tracks at 350 meters in the nation, with five racing lanes and a Mondo track surface.
Supporting local biz
The Hy-Vee Arena isn’t just a sports facility — it also serves as a place for local businesses to set up shop. The arena houses opportunities for:
- Retail space
- Conference rooms
- Coworking + office spaces
Contact Emma Ludwig for more information.
Community amenities
The facility also has amenities for Kansas Citians to enjoy including:
