Facility Design

The American Royal engaged in an experiential design process for its state-of-the art education and events campus with attention to every detail. By visiting numerous facilities across the U.S. and Canada, holding focus groups with existing and potential customers and collecting feedback through hundreds of one-on-one interviews and conversations, the design-build team and American Royal staff have developed venue, event and constituent experience documents to influence every corner of the design. The end-to-end design is intended to create and shape a memorable attendee experience.

With the opportunity to own and operate its own facility for the first time in its history, the new American Royal will be committed to operational excellence based on four value-add principles: leadership, teamwork, customer experience and continuous improvement. The operational philosophy of the association is focused on improved culture and performance leading to short-term acceleration and long-term growth. Using experiential design combined with a focus on adding value to the customer experience will allow each existing event to be evaluated and improved and new events to be created or recruited. This culture and mindset will create continual improvement, value-added experiences and sustainable growth.

The 1,000,000 sq. ft. food and agriculture educational campus will allow for an expansion of the current fourteen-week programming to year-round events and activities. The highly flexible facility features over 850,000 sq. ft. of indoor, Climate-Controlled, programmable event space including significant barn and exposition areas, three performance arenas, and a large learning and engagement center with integration throughout the entire campus.

  • Main Arena – 5,000 seats plus 3,000 on the floor

  • Multipurpose Arena – 3,500 seats plus floor

  • Outdoor Arena – 3,500 seats plus floor

  • Barn/Exhibition hall –1,540 horse stalls, 3,850 cattle ties

  • Learning and Engagement Center – includes 750 seat auditorium, demo kitchen, classrooms, meeting space, banquet space

  • Outdoor Learning Space

  • Maintenance and Storage Buildings

  • Association Offices

  • Parking

  • Commercial Kitchen

Project Details

  • The site for the American Royal is located at the intersection of State Avenue and 118th street in Kansas City, KS. Sitting just northwest of the Kansas Speedway.

  • The American Royal purchased 47 acres west of 118th. The Patterson Family Foundation acquired 80 neighboring acres and signed a long-term lease agreement with the American Royal Association for those acres, providing the American Royal a total of 127 acres for the new complex. The American Royal also purchased another 77 acres west and adjacent to the 47-acre plot. This land is being held for a second phase of the project for outdoor festival grounds, including RV parking.

  • Efforts have been focused on developing a very purpose-driven design for food and agriculture events.

  • Site work commenced in March 2023.

  • The core complex components are expected to be completed in late 2025. The American Royal plans to begin hosting events in the new facility by 2026.

  • The American Royal is working with our neighbors to attract hospitality, retail and organizational partners to the area. In combination with neighboring development, the American Royal will be a part of a food and agriculture epicenter drawing visitors from across the country and around the world.

TImeline

The timeline for this specific project is detailed below. The time necessary to plan and design this project is consistent with its size and scope. We started by finding the right location. We traveled across North America researching other facilities, and we have been working diligently on the design to create a very purpose-driven facility. In addition, the project was paused from May 2020 – June 2022 due to the ramifications of COVID and the unknown impact the pandemic would have on future events and event attendance.

  • April 2017: American Royal purchased 47 acres west of 118th.

  • July 2019: Patterson Family Foundation purchased 80 acres east of 118th along State Avenue.

  • December 2019: American Royal signs 99 years lease Patterson Family Foundation property.

  • December 2019: American Royal hosts a ‘SIGN PLANTING’ event to announce specific location of new site.

  • October 2019 - April 2020: Completed the Unified Government of Wyandotte County process for zoning, preliminary development plan and final development plan.

  • May 2020: The project was paused due to the ramifications of COVID and the unknown impact the pandemic would have on future events and event attendance.

  • May 2020: The American Royal purchased 77 acres for festival grounds.

  • July 2021: The American Royal Board of Directors initiated a strategic planning process focused on defining the future of the American Royal.

  • June 2022: The Board of Directors approved a new Strategic Plan including new mission, vision, purpose and strategic objectives.

  • June 2022: The American Royal Board of Directors directed the staff to reengage on the new campus project.

  • December 2022: The Executive Committee approved the American Royal work plan implementing the strategic plan.

  • July 2022: current: Focus on redesigning the space to be very purpose driven and cost efficient in light of significant cost escalation.

  • March 2023: The American Royal Completed the process for approval of a revised Final Development Plan.

  • March 2023: Site work began.

  • March 2023: American Royal re-launched the silent phase of the fundraising effort.

  • NOVEMBER 2023: american royal hosts a ‘barn raising’ event to celebrate the first piece of steel being anchored into place.