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‘You could feel World Cup was there’: KC2026 CEO provides update on Kansas City’s World Cup efforts

Published

12 months ago

December 18, 2024

‘You could feel World Cup was there’: KC2026 CEO provides update on Kansas City’s World Cup efforts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thirty years ago, Pam Kramer was a rising star executive leading high-profile campaigns for Kansas City-based Sprint — and not all that familiar with soccer.

“I didn’t know much about the World Cup — and it was Sprint’s really big, first global sponsorship — so I had the opportunity to travel to all nine U.S. host cities (and) saw every U.S. team match” Kramer said Wednesday during an interview at Visit KC’s downtown office. “It was extraordinary — the celebration, the excitement, the enthusiasm. Even in cities like LA and New York, you could feel that the World Cup was there.”

Now, Kramer serves as CEO of KC2026 — the nonprofit tasked with preparing Kansas City to step into the World Cup spotlight in 18 months as the host of six World Cup games, including a quarterfinal, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

RELATED | Renovations underway at Arrowhead, which passes 1st test as soccer venue

“We have really strong momentum, and it’s built on the team, right?” said Kramer, who took the KC2026 reins in mid-July. “We’ve gone from a staff of two to a staff of 11 — and a few more starting after the first of the year — and they’re really high-achieving, high-performing people in transportation and marketing and safety and security.”

Chris Morrison/KSHB

KC2026 CEO Pam Kramer provided an update Wednesday on Kansas City’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium will host six World Cup games in 18 months.

Of course, Kramer and the KC2026 team is tasked with more than organizing a month-long series of events, including the Fan Fest that was announced in August, and moving people around the region.

City and soccer officials have promised a transformational experience for the region.

WATCH | ‘Welcoming the World: How KC Became a Host City’

Welcoming the Word: How Kansas City became a World Cup host city

“When you hear legacy, you think sticks and bricks — Centennial Park, something like that in Atlanta,” Kramer said. “For us, legacy is more about sustained and long-term impact. … That could end up being some sort of physical project or idea. But for us, legacy is more about creating capacity, building workforce, teaching people how to operate or showing that we can operate regionally, and creating a blueprint for how to do that.”

Kramer said she’s well aware that any decisions KC2026 make also have to work for Kansas City’s residents.

“The transportation plan starts with the people who are already here,” she said. “We want people not only to be able to get to work and do the things that they typically do, but also to engage with the World Cup.”

Kramer said Kansas City will be the first host city to announce its bus procurement next month, a huge step with FIFA and the other host cities also likely to be searching for buses ahead of the World Cup.

“We’ll more than double the capacity that we currently have in the city,” she said. “We’re going to be the first host city to go to market with our bus procurement, so certainly leading in that way.”

RELATED | Fan parking at Arrowhead may be nixed for World Cup

KC2026 also announced a plan for FIFA Fan Fest four months ago, so the organization has hit some major milestones thanks to “universal support” from local and state officials across Missouri and Kansas.

But Kramer said now is not the time to take her foot off the gas.

“We are far better prepared because of that universal support, both from a funding standpoint and preparation standpoint, but we still have a lot to do,” she said. “I mean — 539 days — I feel like we’re leading the host cities in many areas, but I would never say there’s not more work to do.”

With a chance to welcome the world, Kramer is also confident Kansas City will rise to meet and embrace the moment.

“It’s hard to watch the World Cup and not become a soccer fan and not get swept up in the enthusiasm,” she said. “I saw Brazil play and their fans were so joyful.”

World Cup qualifying will continue until March 2026

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KSHB 41 reporter Tod Palmer covers sports business and eastern Jackson County. Share your story idea with Tod.

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Kansas City shelter at capacity still welcomes homeless with volunteers’ help

Published

4 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Kansas City shelter at capacity still welcomes homeless with volunteers’ help

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Every night, Luis Arellano opens doors for Kansas City’s homeless at Unity Southeast church.

“And when they say ‘Hey, Luis!’, they remember me for something good. ‘Remember me you gave me the jacket!’,” said Luis Arellano, who serves as shelter lead.

Two years ago, someone opened a door for him when he needed it most. In 2023, cancer took his wife. The grief that followed he said nearly took him as well.

“I lost people. I didn’t want to continue living. Drinking,” Arellano said.

Arellano said he spiraled into darkness, drowning his pain in alcohol. On the night he was planning on ending it all, someone saw him differently.

They brought him to the church, where he said he finally slept after days.

“Finally, I cried. I put everything out, and I felt more peace. He said sometimes we don’t understand why God takes away the people we love the most. I tried to get it more. And from there I started to help here,” Arellano said.

That person was Reverend Randy Fikki. Both Arellano and Fikki dedicate their time making sure others don’t face their darkest nights alone.

“If it was my brother or my sister or my mom or my dad, I wouldn’t want it to be a based on if somebody had room or not. The question is not if we have room in our sanctuaries. It’s if we have room in our hearts,” Fikki said.

Sunday night, Unity Southeast was at capacity, but Fikki said they’re not turning anyone away. He’s working to find space for everyone who needs shelter.

For Arellano, it’s more than a mission.

“I miss my wife, believe me. Of course I miss, that’s my baby. But I know the best can happen from her,” he said.

Fikki said their capacity is 70 people, but will not turn anyone away. He said they started the shelter in 2019.

Along with a place for rest, Fikki and Arellano said they give guests food, clothing, and entertainment as asked.

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What are Kansas State football’s recruiting needs for early signing day? What you need to know

Published

20 hours ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

What are Kansas State football’s recruiting needs for early signing day? What you need to know

MANHATTAN — Kansas State football has no time to rest after the regular season ended. The Wildcats will now transition into recruiting mode with the early National Signing Day period beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and ending on Friday, Dec. 5.

Chris Klieman will enter his eighth season hoping to rebuild the Wildcats into a Big 12 championship contender and challenge for the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

There are a lot of holes that Kansas State will need to fill, but it’s landed a handful of commitments from promising recruits, who will put pen to paper this week.

Here are some recruiting needs for K-State and questions it will need to answer over the next few months.

K-State football 2026 recruiting tracker

Kansas State is going to need a starting running back

This is probably more for the transfer portal, but the Wildcats need to make sure they have the starting running back position covered and depth in case of an emergency. The Dylan Edwards injury hurt the offense for most of the season.

HD Davis, a three-star 6-foot running back out of Wolfe City (Texas), is currently the Wildcats’ lone commit to their backfield. He’s been highly productive this year, rushing for 2,429 yards and 30 touchdowns, bringing him to over 6,300 yards and 73 touchdowns for his career.

We’ll see if Joe Jackson can take a step next year after taking positive steps in the latter half of the season when he got comfortable in the leading role. He rushed for a school-record 293 yards on Nov. 22 against Utah, giving him something to build off. Barring transfers, the Wildcats are also set to return Devon Rice, JB Price, Antonio Martin Jr. and Monterrio Elston Jr.

Would Kansas State be ready for a life without Avery Johnson?

The Wildcats should be thinking about their future without Avery Johnson, whether or not he enters the transfer portal. If he stays in Manhattan, he’ll have one more season before graduation, turning eyes toward those on the roster and the Wildcats’ potential targets in the portal.

Thankfully, Johnson has been healthy since he became the full-time starter prior to the 2024 season, but those behind him have minimal experience. Jacob Knuth, Blake Barnett, Dillon Duff and Hudson Hutcheson follow him on the depth chart, and none have taken any meaningful snaps, outside of Barnett when he enters the game as somewhat of a power back in a Wildcat formation.

Miles Teodecki, a three-star out of Vandegrift (Texas), is expected to sign with the Wildcats. Entering the weekend, he had thrown for 1,729 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.

Kansas State needs depth along the offensive line

The offensive line is taking the biggest hit with this year’s graduations. Contributors, including Sam Hecht, Andrew Leingang, Taylor Poitier, JB Nelson and Terrence Enos Jr., are all listed as seniors. The main returners include John Pastore, Devin Vass and Gus Hawkins. It’ll be difficult for K-State to go into the offseason banking on that George Fitzpatrick will be good to go after missing this year after an offseason medical emergency.

The offensive line has been a focus for the Wildcats’ early recruiting, with five commitments. The team’s highest-ranked commit is Justin Morales, an offensive tackle out of Franklin (Texas), who is listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 31 player at his position.

Can Kansas State hit on its wide receiver targets?

The Wildcats were thin at wide receiver this season, thanks in large part to injuries, but they need more development and depth at the position. They need to get into a spot where they can be comfortable with Linkon Cure lining up as a tight end rather than being split out wide. Having Jayce Brown and Jerand Bradley impacted by injury for at least half the season didn’t help matters. There is some promise in Jaron Tibbs and Adonis Moise.

K-State has two wide receiver commits. Derrick Salley Jr. committed on Nov. 25 as the No. 1 juco receiver in the country and should be an instant-impact player. Fellow commit Maxwell Lovett, a three-star out of Cherry Creek (Colorado), caught 34 passes for 700 yards and eight touchdowns his senior year.

K-State’s receivers need to produce more than they did during the 2025 season. Salley is a great get, and more will be needed, whether it’s via the high school route or by trying again in the transfer portal.

How deep is Kansas State at linebacker without Des Purnell?

K-State is set to lose Des Purnell to graduation after his standout season. There’s also the chance that Austin Romaine will declare for the NFL Draft. The Wildcats are typically strong within this group, but there will rightfully be some questions heading into 2026. Rex Van Wyhe and Asa Newsom could be pushed into larger roles.

The Wildcats have a pair of committed linebackers, including four-star Lawson McGraw out of Blue Valley West. The son of former K-Stater Jon McGraw is rated as the No. 22 athlete in the country and should be someone to be excited about. Dejon Ackerson, out of Putnam City (Oklahoma), climbed to the No. 53 linebacker in his class.

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com

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Man pronounced dead at scene of car crash in Kansas City, Kansas

Published

2 days ago

November 29, 2025

Press Room

Man pronounced dead at scene of car crash in Kansas City, Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The Kansas City Police Department says one man has died after he was involved in a crash early Saturday morning.

Officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of North 38th Street in KCK around 7 a.m. on Nov. 29. There, they found a crashed gray SUV with an unresponsive man in the driver’s seat.

Paramedics were called to the scene and pronounced the man dead. His identity was not immediately released, but KCKPD said he was in his 60s.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but the man was reportedly driving north on 38th Street when he veered off the road and into a parking lot. His car hit two posts before coming to a stop.

No further information was released.

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