A couple of guys from Wichita want to bring minor league hockey to Kemper Arena
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When the American Royal got all upset earlier this year because City Hall wouldn’t cave in to its pricey demands to replace Kemper Arena with something new for itself, Kansas City leaders sought bids for some other group to make use of the aging arena.
The city got two offers in August but wouldn’t say who made bids or what they were. Steve Foutch, a local developer, confirmed to The Kansas City Star that he was one of the aspirants to take over Kemper Arena.
He said he wanted turn it into something along the lines of the youth and adult sports complex he had envisioned last year but ultimately abandoned in the face of the American Royal’s jockeying for Kemper Arena.
But the other bid remained a mystery as city leaders kept mum about it until they could evaluate the merits of both proposals.
It turns out that the previously unknown bid is a proposal from two brothers out of Wichita who want to bring minor league hockey to Kemper Arena.
The Pitch has learned that Rodney and Brandon Steven, both Wichita businessmen, are the guys in competition with Foutch.
The Steven brothers own Genesis Health Clubs and recently tried to get into the casino business. They also have ownership stakes in various minor league hockey teams: Wichita Thunder, Allen (Texas) Americans and the Tulsa Oilers. They seem to have a colorful history in Wichita.
A message left for Steven was not returned on Tuesday.
Their proposal, however, may encounter headwinds. First is that the Kansas City metro already has minor league hockey with the Missouri Mavericks playing in Independence. The Mavericks play in the same league as the three other clubs owned by the Steven brothers. Kansas City may not be the most hospitable market for two minor league hockey squads.
Another is that the Steven proposal, from what we’ve heard, contemplates having Kansas City continuing to own Kemper Arena, while city leaders would rather get the arena off their hands.
Members of the Kansas City, Missouri, City Council may discuss both proposals in a closed session during Wednesday’s Planning, Zoning & Economic Development Committee meeting.
