FEATURE DESTINATION: Kansas City
What makes Kansas City a great place for faith-based meetings?
Kansas City is an ideal location for faith-based meetings. The city has a strong faith community, with ties to the Church of the Nazarene, International House of Prayer, the Episcopal Church, and other faiths, while also supporting a range of denominations and faith traditions. Churches and local ministries often partner with visiting groups for outreach and volunteerism.
In comparison with coastal cities, Kansas City typically offers more cost-effective options for accommodations, dining, and event venues. Kansas City is easily accessible from both coasts, which makes travel convenient and affordable for attendees, and Kansas City International Airport offers nonstop service to numerous U.S. cities.
What are some of Kansas City’s unique and major meeting spaces?
Kansas City offers a variety of unique meeting spaces that cater to groups of all sizes, from large conventions to smaller, more intimate faith-based retreats.
Kansas City Convention Center – Over 800,000 sq. ft. of space, including 388,800 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit halls, a LEED Silver 46,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, 45 meeting rooms, and a 2,400-seat theater.
T-Mobile Center – Ideal for rallies, concerts, and large gatherings with seating for up to 19,000.
Unity Village – A retreat and conference center with on-site lodging and prayer gardens, perfect for spiritual retreats.
KCI Airport Corridor – KCI Expo Center (80,000+ sq. ft.) plus nearby hotels, free parking, and minutes from the new single-terminal airport—great for regional or national meetings.
What are some cultural and recreational experiences that faith-based groups would enjoy?
The National WWI Museum and Memorial – Experience the most diverse collection of WWI objects and documents in the world.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum – Explore the history of the leagues from their origin after the Civil War to their demise in the 1960s.
American Jazz Museum – The sights and sounds of a uniquely American art form come alive.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library – The newly renovated library and museum chronicle Truman’s private life and political career.
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts – The cultural icon features some of the world’s most talented opera, theater, dance and music.
Country Club Plaza – Wander 15 blocks of Spanish-inspired architecture offering dozens of local shops and upscale restaurants.
What are new enhancements of interest to event planners?
Opening in 2026, the reimagined Barney Allis Plaza will deliver nearly 40,000 sq. ft. of versatile outdoor event space, including plazas for gatherings, food trucks, and an oval lawn for informal interactions—all adjacent to the Kansas City Convention Center.
The KC Streetcar expansion adds a 3.5-mile south extension in 2025 with 16 stops linking downtown to UMKC, Westport, and more, followed by a north extension to Berkley Riverfront and CPKC Stadium in 2026. Also underway, Roy Blunt Luminary Park will cap I-670 with 5.5 acres of sustainable green space, uniting downtown and Crossroads with inclusive play, entertainment, and transit access.
