Kansas City is a popular convention destination, ranking among the top meeting centers in the nation. The Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Centers, site of most major functions in the city, consist of H. Roe Bartle Hall and Municipal Auditorium and covers a four-block downtown area. The two buildings are linked by an underground walk-way that is also connected to a parking garage and three hotels. A renovation project that ended in January 2005 reconfigured more than half the facility into 26 meeting rooms, offering more than 67,704 square feet of meeting space. An additional expansion project will spend $135 million by 2007 to add 135,000 square feet, including a 46,450-square-foot grand ballroom/multipurpose space and 35,000 square feet of pre-function space. A previous expansion of Bartle Hall made it the largest contiguous column-free exhibit space in the nation.
Located near the convention center is the American Royal Center, a 14-acre complex that includes Kemper Arena, the American Royal Arena, Hale Arena, and American Royal Museum. The newly expanded Kemper Arena is the site of large functions such as political conventions.
Additional convention facilities for both large and small groups can be found at metropolitan area hotels and motels, where more than 17,000 rooms are available.
Convention Information: Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association, 1100 Main St., Ste. 2200, Kansas City, MO 64105; telephone (816)221-5242; toll-free (800)767-7700