Kemper Arena
Completed in 1974, the arena has served as a venue for the American Royal, NCAA Final Four tournaments, professional sports teams, concerts, and was notably the site of a roof collapse in 1979.
Kemper Arena
1800 Genessee St, Kansas City, MO 64102 (Map)
Built: 1974
Architect: Helmut Jahn
Area: West Bottoms
Kemper Arena, now known as Hy-Vee Arena, is a multi-purpose facility located in Kansas City, Missouri. Built in 1974 in the city’s West Bottoms, the arena was designed by architect Helmut Jahn and features an innovative column-free interior supported by exterior steel trusses. This design allowed for unobstructed views, a notable advancement for arenas at the time.
The arena originally seated approximately 18,000 spectators and was constructed to serve a wide range of functions, including professional sports, concerts, conventions, and community events.
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