Tag: Tracy Whelpley

KC favorites eye World Cup: How to become ‘the spot’ for visitors without losing KC flavor

By Tommy Felts / November 18, 2025

Even a visitor can become a repeat customer, said Dulcinea Herrera, stressing the importance of Kansas City businesses making their establishments a destination — not just a one-time stopover or accidental find — for international fans and other out-of-town guests when the FIFA World Cup arrives next summer. The goal: Win them over with intentional…

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World Cup hosts launch KC Game Plan for entrepreneurs; heat map, cultural insights on global visitors warming up next

By Tommy Felts / September 30, 2025

Kansas City boasts no better roster of ambassadors than the region’s small business owners, said Tracy Whelpley, announcing a new KC2026 “Game Plan” for entrepreneurs who are eager to put cleats to streets ahead of the incoming FIFA World Cup. “There’s so many entrepreneurial people out there and they really represent what our community is…

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World Cup will produce KC small biz millionaires in just weeks, leaders say, but it’s only the start

By Tommy Felts / September 12, 2025

Kansas City can’t look at the World Cup in 2026 as one big event where businesses are going to make good money for a while, and then everything goes back to normal, said Wes Rogers.  “This has to be the beginning of the next chapter of our city,” the 2nd District Councilman for Kansas City,…

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Entrepreneurs worry World Cup could leave small biz, communities on the losing team

By Tommy Felts / April 17, 2025

FIFA’s summer games set to bring opportunity to Kansas City, but some fear a ripple effect that lasts far longer than the 2026 matches With each month that passes before Kansas City hosts games for the FIFA World Cup in June 2026, local small business owners are facing anxiety about the uncertain plays ahead —…

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Clock is ticking on World Cup 2026: Small businesses urged to prepare before this buzzer-beater

By Tommy Felts / March 7, 2025

A massive influx of visitors are expected next year when more than 600,000 fans descend on Kansas City for its piece of the FIFA World Cup 2026 prize, but potential roadblocks lie ahead for small business owners who are waiting for the action instead of preparing now to capitalize on it, said local leaders. “This…

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