Kansas Citians help break TEDx world record for fastest sellout of tickets

In the time it takes to walk from Kansas City’s streetcar line to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, TEDxKC sold out.

In record time — only four minutes — Kansas Citians devoured hundreds of tickets for the TEDxKC live event on Aug. 18 at the Kauffman Center.  

Mike Lundgren, curator and founder of TEDxKC, said that Kansas City now holds the TED world record for the fastest ticket sell-out. He added that his near decade of organizing TEDxKC has made him proud of the city’s appetite for thought-provoking content.

“In nine years of putting on TEDxKC, my co-founder John Mulvihill and I learned one thing: Kansas City punches way above its weight when it comes to supporting intellectual programming,” Lundgren said. “Once again, TEDxKC is the largest TED event in the United States. I think that’s pretty cool. It makes me even prouder to live in this great city. The fact that we hold the TED world record for selling out our live event — four minutes this year — underscores it all.”

One of the largest, independently-organized TEDx events in the world, TEDxKC offers a lineup of perspective-altering speakers set for Aug. 18 at the Kauffman Center. Learn more about the speakers here.

If you were one of the many disgruntled Kansas Citians who weren’t able to purchase a ticket fast enough, you’re in luck. To meet the demand, TEDxKC announced Thursday partnerships with several metro locations that will host watch parties.

This year, the watch parties will expand to serve a wider geographic area. Locations include Lee’s Summit, Independence and the Northland. In 2016, TEDxKC hosted three watch parties with a total of 350 attendees. With four locations this year, organizers expect each event will attract about 100 guests.

Watch party tickets are $10 and include a TEDxKC T-shirt, refreshments and seat for the live-simulcast. Guests have the choice between these four watch party locations:

• Sprint Accelerator (Crossroads), 210 W. 19th Terrace, Kansas City, MO
• Woodneath Library Center (Northland), 8900 NE Flintlock Road, Kansas City, MO
• Colbern Road Branch Library, 1000 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, MO
• North Independence Branch Library, 317 W. 24 Highway, Independence, MO

TEDxKC is also seeking experiential, artistic or interactive experiences to be displayed in the lobby of the Kauffman Center on the day of the event. If selected, each artist will receive a $1,000 stipend and two complimentary tickets to the live simulcast experience in Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

To apply, visit TEDxKC.org to submit your proposal before July 17.