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 Kansas City, MO -- Football fans heading to Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship will find plenty to do before and after the big game. Here are a few highlights of the busy weekend:
Big 12 Kick Off Concert with Vertical Horizon
The Big 12 Conference welcomes football fans back to KC with a free concert the evening before the Championship inside the Kansas City Power & Light District. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, the concert will feature rock band Vertical Horizon (known for chart-topping hits "Everything You Want", "You're a God" and "Best I Ever Had.") The free show is open to the public (ages 21 and over) and will take place inside Kansas City Live!-the heated, open-air entertainment venue inside the district.
Game Day Fan Experience
Arrowhead Stadium will host a special Fan Experience for Big 12 football fans prior to the Championship. From 2 until 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, fans can enjoy an array of pre-game festivities, from team spirit tents to interactive games and inflatables for the kids. The Fan Experience will be held between Gates B and D (on the stadium's east side).
Kansas City's "Season of Magic"
There are few places where the sights and sounds of the holiday season are more alluring than in Kansas City. From the city's dazzling light displays to its rich tradition of holiday entertainment, it's no wonder Kansas City has earned a reputation for its seasonal charm.
Get in the holiday spirit by catching one of several holiday shows while you're in town, such as Kansas City Repertory Theatre's A Christmas Carol or Kansas City Ballet's million-dollar production of The Nutcracker. Then feast your eyes on the city's festive light displays, from the world-famous Country Club Plaza Season of Lights to the 100-foot Mayor's Christmas Tree at Crown Center. For "Season of Magic" deals on everything from dining, hotels and theatre, go to VisitKC.com/Holidays.
Shop 'til You Drop
Serious shoppers love Crown Center and the Country Club Plaza, which offer everything from nationally known department stores to one-of-a-kind boutiques. The Plaza, modeled after Seville, Spain, has more than 180 shops and restaurants. Crown Center, home of Hallmark Cards, boasts more than 70 shops and restaurants. Don't miss Fritz's Railroad Restaurant, where an overhead miniature train delivers the food to your table.
Where There's Smoke...
There's barbecue! Barbecue is a way of life in Kansas City. From quaint and cozy to loud and lively, more than 100 barbecue joints can be found in the area. Try the burnt ends-they're a Kansas City favorite.
Major League Sports Museums
Rev up your sports weekend by visiting one of KC's premier sports museums. Stand on the field with baseball legends such as Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This one-of-a-kind museum experience chronicles the history and heroes of the Negro Leagues. Then get your head in the game at downtown's new College Basketball Experience. Named one of the nation's top interactive museums by Wired magazine, this hands-on facility recreates the intensity of a college hoops game-from foul-line hecklers to last-second buzzer beaters.
KC After Dark
Who needs sleep when Kansas City has so much to offer after the big game? From the city's four casinos to its signature, toe-tapping jazz clubs, Kansas City will keep you busy until the wee hours of the morning. Don't forget to check out the Kansas City Power & Light District-a new, eight-block entertainment hub that has everything from line dancing to fine dining.
Major International Exhibits
Kansas City's cultural institutions have something in store for Big 12 fans, too. Union Station is now playing host to two world-class exhibits-Dialog in the Dark and The Tsar & The President. The innovative Dialog in the Dark will awaken your senses, letting you experience first-hand what it's like to be blind. The second exhibit, The Tsar & The President, explores the interesting parallels between two revolutionary leaders-Russia's Tsar Alexander II and President Abraham Lincoln. The exhibit depicts the conflicts and consequences that each man faced, and how their lives ended in similar tragedy.
Also appearing in Kansas City is the only American stop for Art in the Age of Steam: Europe, America and the Railway, 1830-1960, at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Showcasing works by acclaimed artists like Claude Monet and Thomas Hart Benton, the exhibition celebrates the drama of the railroad and its lasting impact on artists.
For more information about Kansas City and Big 12 Football Weekend, visit the Official Fan Information Site at VisitKC.com/Big12Football. The site is chock full with game day details such as tailgate information, fan fest schedules, driving directions to Arrowhead Stadium, plus local information and reviews of Kansas City hotels, restaurants and things to do.
## KC ##
Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
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Ameristar Casino, exterior
Caption: The 140,000-square-foot casino floor at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City is the largest in the city.
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Argosy Casino, casino floor
Caption: The Mediterranean-themed Argosy Casino, Hotel & Spa features more than 1,800 coinless slot machines, 40 table games and a live action poker room.
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College Basketball Experience
Caption: Located in the new Sprint Center, this attraction celebrates college basketball by placing visitors in electrifying, game-like situations. Photo credit: Erik Miner
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Country Club Plaza Season of Lights
Caption: More than 80 miles of lights outline every building, dome and tower on the Country Club Plaza each holiday season. This image is not available for download.
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Crown Center Ice Terrace
Caption: The Ice Terrace at Crown Center is Kansas City's only outdoor, public ice rink.
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Kansas City Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium
Caption: Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, seats more than 79,000 on game day.
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Kansas City Power & Light District
Caption: Just steps from the Convention Center, the Power & Light District features eight blocks of dining, nightlife and entertainment venues. This image is not available for download.
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Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Caption: The Kansas City Repertory Theatre's annual production of "A Christmas Carol" is a holiday favorite.
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Mayor's Christmas Tree
Caption: The 100-foot-tall Mayor's Christmas tree at Crown Center is one of the tallest in the nation.
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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Field of Legends
Caption: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum chronicles the history and heroes of the Negro Leagues from their founding after the Civil War to their demise in the 1960s.
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Zona Rosa Holiday Crowns
Caption: Zona Rosa has brought back a longtime downtown Kansas City tradition of suspending large lighted crowns over the street ways. This image is not available for download.
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