Power & Light: $10M in Live! Block upgrades planned before downtown’s Big 12 ‘opening day’
November 14, 2024 | Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
The Kansas City Live! Block in the Power & Light District — a place KCMO Councilman Crispen Rea calls the living room of Kansas City — is set for a $10 million upgrade, local business and civic leaders announced Thursday. Key updates also target the popular District nightclub Mosaic.
“It’s become an engine that generates high-octane energy, national and international attention, and year-round activity,” John Moncke, president of Power & Light, said at a press conference at Kansas City Live! with Rea, KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas, and Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC.
“This block alone had over six million visitors last year, which is equivalent to all the fans combined that went to home games for our local pro sports teams,” he noted.
“KC Live! is the heart of celebration, fun, and joy in Kansas City,” added Lucas.
Kathy Nelson, Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC; John Moncke, Power & Light; Quinton Lucas, KCMO mayor; and Crispen Rea, KCMO councilman, share a laugh in the Kansas City Live! block at Power & Light; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
The plans unveiled Thursday by The Cordish Companies include a new canopy, ceiling heaters, misters, high-definition ribbon boards, enhanced theatrical lighting, and expanded group seating areas for the KC Live! Block — known for its Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup watch parties, NCAA and Big 12 basketball tournament gatherings, and Hot Country Nights concert series.
Mosaic will also undergo $2.5 million in upgrades and a new Latin-inspired restaurant and nightclub — Besos y Abrazos — is set to open in spring 2025.
Kathy Nelson, Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC, speaks during a press conference in the Kansas City Live! block at Power & Light; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“Investment in our downtown continues to generate results for small businesses, for tourism, the hospitality industry and so many others,” Nelson noted. “Together, we are building a city that is known around the world for its midwest kindness, collaborative spirit, and love of sport. And the Power & Light District sits at the heart of all of that.”
According to The Cordish Companies, Besos y Abrazos will offer a vibrant fusion of expertly crafted cocktails, including a selection of margaritas, sangrias, and Spanish wines; innovative dining, including dishes inspired by traditional street foods across Latin America like Brazilian cheese bread with charred tomatillo crema, loaded tostones with braised beef and pico de gallo, Cuban steak tacos with creamy mojo, and house-made empanadas; plus dynamic DJs.
Mosaic will nearly double in size and upgrades will include a state-of-the-art audio system, lighting, and DJ booth; a new luxury lounge, and a refreshed patio.
KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks during a press conference in the Kansas City Live! block at Power & Light; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
“We are grateful for the economic development that you’ve developed in the city,” Lucas said of The Cordish Companies. “We’re grateful for you taking a chance on Kansas City. Any of us who were born and raised in Kansas City remember downtown. This particular area — 20 years ago — it was a different place. The haunted houses were actually right here, at least a few were. You could find any number of things, including, occasionally, a bull that had escaped and gone free.”
“What Kansas City is today is something truly special,” he added.
Construction and upgrades have already begun, Moncke said, and Kansas City Live! will remain open during the upgrades.
“These projects are planned to be completed in time for what we call downtown’s opening day, which is the Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in March,” he noted.
“These enhancements and new concepts to Kansas City Live! will not only elevate our guest and resident experience, but will further solidify the Power & Light District as an iconic destination for world-class entertainment and hospitality,” he added.
The Power & Light District also recently welcomed new restaurants HomeGrown and Modern Market.
Three Dog Bakery and The Yard Milkshake Bar are expected to open in 2025.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Ready to bet big? Kansas wants to help entrepreneurs win more federal innovation grants
Kansas innovators now have access to a new tool designed to help them compete for major federal funding. The Kansas Department of Commerce has opened applications for the state’s SBIR and STTR Matching Program, which provides financial support and hands-on guidance for entrepreneurs pursuing federal innovation grants. The matching initiative is part of ACCEL-KS, a…
New Maker of the Year: Why this mom’s side hustle for the girly girls couldn’t stay at home
A hobbyist venture that began with making shirts for her kids has earned Julie Swopes a spot on Made in KC’s shelves for her Chiefs- and Royals-inspired tees — along with one of the local-first retailer’s top honors: KC New Maker of the Year for 2025. “I’m just a stay-at-home mom that has turned her…
Don’t be a stranger: When this Crossroads refuge closes, another chapter begins for Afterword (and the space it leaves behind)
With two more Open Mic Nights and more than a month left on its lease at Afterword Tavern & Shelves — a cozy corner hotspot where patrons leisurely bond over drinks and good reads — the popular Crossroads third-space isn’t finished telling its story despite losing the space to its new landlord, said Kate Hall.…
Exporting KC to the world: Esports leader revs come-from-behind global takeover amid World Cup’s big draw
As the metro bundled up and showed out Friday, getting its latest taste of what the 2026 World Cup has in store, the Kansas City Pioneers dropped new heat — raising the thermostat on their commitment to seize the moment brought forth by the global gathering as a net for esports. “Now is the time for…