Want to buy an arena? High mileage, needs work

Used under a Creative Commons agreement courtesy CC BY-SA 2.5.

Used under a Creative Commons agreement courtesy CC BY-SA 2.5.

As far as aging Kemper Arena goes, it has gone from two redevelopment proposals to none to who knows.

The city council today approved a measure declaring the Kemper Arena surplus property and directing the city manager to take the first steps toward selling it.

Councilman Ed Ford said he expects the manager will have a national request for proposals on the arena ready for council approval in about three weeks.

Companies will have a 90-day window to respond. Replies would lead to public hearings and a decision by a new city council that starts April 1, Ford said.

The American Royal used Kemper for decades but criticism prompted it to withdraw its proposal to demolish it and replace it with a smaller building.

Royal officials told the Kansas City Star they will not respond to the RFP and are exploring a move to Wyandotte County.

Another developer also withdrew a proposal to use the Kemper for sporting events.

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