More than $3.5 billion in new district development is transforming the Kansas City experience, elevating the city as a premier meetings destination. From reinvestment in historic neighborhoods to entirely new public spaces and mixed-use districts, take a look at the projects creating fresh possibilities for meetings and memorable attendee experiences.
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Plaza Barney Allis
$118 million | Anticipated opening: 2026
Slated to open in 2026, the reimagined Barney Allis Plaza will be one of Downtown Kansas City’s premier public spaces, offering a variety of multifunctional outdoor areas just steps from the Kansas City Convention Center, Municipal Auditorium and nearby hotels. Within a few blocks, visitors can also reach the stunning Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the popular Kansas City Power & Light District.
Designed to host standalone events and add-ons for groups gathering at nearby venues, Barney Allis Plaza will feature a variety of flexible space, including an event plaza, sloped lawn, pavilion plaza and oval lawn. Additional amenities include a family-friendly play area, dog park and parking garage, along with a public art installation by Belgian artist duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh. The park will also support multimodal transportation options, pedestrian access to surrounding venues and will sit just two blocks from the free-to-ride KC Streetcar.
Current Landing
$1 billion | Phase 1 anticipated opening: 2026
Berkley Riverfront has recently seen exciting growth with several new developments shaping the Missouri River. In 2024, the Kansas City Current debuted their 11,000-seat CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team. The stadium has already spurred nearby development, including the 1180-room boutique Origin Hotel KC and the outdoor beer garden Two Birds One Stone.
Building on this momentum, the neighborhood will soon be home to Current Landing, a new mixed-use development designed to reconnect the city to the waterfront. The development will add more than 10 planned restaurants and bars – combining local and national chef talent – and a 2+ acre Town Square adjacent to CPKC Stadium programmed for year-round events, community activations and enhanced match-day experiences. Expanded riverfront promenades and green spaces will link the district to Berkley Riverfront Park and the new Founders Park, while the upcoming KC Streetcar extension will connect the area to Downtown KC and the Country Club Plaza, enhancing the city’s walkability and providing new opportunities for receptions and off-site experiences.
Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District
$400 million | Phased openings through 2028
The historic 18th & Vine Jazz District is entering a new era through multiple infrastructure projects focused on preserving the district’s cultural legacy while enhancing its infrastructure, accessibility and vibrancy. The effort blends major public improvements with private development to strengthen walkability, expand housing, activate storefronts and support local artists and entrepreneurs, ensuring the district remains a thriving cultural destination for generations to come.
Key upgrades already underway or planned include a new pedestrian-friendly 18th Street corridor, enhanced streetscapes along The Paseo, expanded green space and public art, improved parking capacity and multimodal connections. Additional projects include a reimagined Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with an integrated hotel and the restoration of the historic Boone Theater as a flexible event and performance space. Meeting planners will soon have even more opportunities to host events at the heart of one of Kansas City’s most storied cultural districts, surrounded by the legacy of jazz, sports and Black history that define 18th & Vine.
Bluhawk
$750 million | Phase 1 open | Phase 2 anticipated opening: 2027
Bluhawk is emerging as a first-of-its-kind destination in America, redefining entertainment in Overland Park, KS. Anchored by the 420,000-square-foot AdventHealth Sports Park, which opened in October 2024, the sports complex features an NHL-sized ice rink, professional basketball and volleyball courts, a multi-purpose turf field, performance and training facilities, and family-friendly entertainment, with further expansion planned in 2027.
The 277-acre district already offers premium shopping and dining, including well-known brands and inviting eateries ideal for breaks between games or meetings. Looking ahead, Bluhawk will add approximately 200,000 square feet of rooftop bars, fresh boutiques, local dining and green spaces designed to connect people by 2027. Phase 2 of the Bluhawk development will expand outdoor gathering areas and add flexible event-ready spaces, offering more unique spaces for hosting in KC. Hotel development will also improve with a 99-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites opening in 2026, along with additional hotels planned by 2027, adding a total of 350 rooms to the complex.
Discovery Park
$1 billion | Phase 1 anticipated opening: 2026
Discovery Park in Lee’s Summit is a transformative $1 billion mixed-use development spanning 268 acres and unfolding across three phases. Once complete, the project will deliver approximately 3.9 million square feet of retail, office, entertainment and hospitality space, creating a new hub for events and extended stays just outside of downtown.
The first phase, The Village, introduces walkable shopping and residential living surrounding a 4-acre recreational lake for water sports, along with more than five miles of nature trails – perfect for wellness programs, team building and downtime between meetings. Two hotels – TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Home2 Suites by Hilton – will add 230 rooms steps from the district.
Future phases include The Crossing, combining retail, restaurants, entertainment, and office space, and The Promenade, which will feature a riverwalk, additional dining and entertainment, mixed-use buildings, and the Discovery Hotel, a boutique-style lodging experience.
Roy Blunt Luminary Park
$315 million | Anticipated opening: 2029
Roy Blunt Luminary Park is a new public space planned in downtown KC that will cap a 4-block stretch of Interstate 670, reconnecting the Downtown Convention District and Crossroads Arts District with inclusive green spaces and community amenities. The 5.5-acre sustainable urban park is a collaborative effort led by the City of Kansas City, the Downtown Council of Kansas City and Port KC, and it was officially named in honor of former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt for his role in helping secure federal support for the project.
With key milestones reached – including federal clearance of environmental impacts and City Council approval to advance the design – the park is moving forward towards construction anticipated to begin in 2026. Once complete, the park will serve as a landmark green space featuring accessible play areas, active programming, inclusive gathering spaces, entertainment amenities and multimodal transportation options.
