100 murals and $500 million: The tangible and intangible legacy of Kansas City's World Cup

The city of Kansas City invested in painting 100 murals across the metro area in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, a visual project that has now gone quiet as the tournament ends. In the West Bottoms alone, developer SomeraRoad commissioned seven pieces as part of a broader $500 million redevelopment effort. Grant Hromas, a spokesperson for SomeraRoad KC, stated that the goal was to use the global attention of the tournament to draw visitors into the neighborhood and its creative community. The Harringtons, who co-founded the art agency SpraySeeMo, prioritized creative freedom to ensure the artwork would remain relevant after the games concluded.

Infrastructure improvements represent another major category of investment. Public works director Jason Waldron confirmed that the city completed safety upgrades on Southwest Boulevard, including repaving and new flood storage infrastructure, before the tournament began. The city also added sidewalks and a shared-use path on Stadium Drive and opened a new pathway on the Grand Boulevard bridge. Waldron noted that while these projects were not initiated because of the World Cup, the event provided the deadline required to accelerate their completion. He emphasized that city leaders aimed to avoid placing the burden of these large-scale preparations on local services.

Johnson County made specific purchases intended for long-term utility. The county bought a 20-by-30 foot screen for nearly $300,000, which was used to display 24 games in Shawnee Mission Park. Kellen Jenkins, the district’s marketing manager, said the screen is now in storage but will be integrated into next year’s Theater in the Park season. Additionally, Johnson County Libraries installed free charging lockers and translation devices. As of October 16, the library reported approximately 750 translations using these tools, primarily in Spanish, Korean, and Japanese. Elissa Andre, the library’s marketing manager, said these services are expected to remain in place for years.

Not all World Cup initiatives have produced the expected outcomes. Open Doors!, a program that placed small businesses in vacant storefronts, paid 80% of rent and provided $10,000 grants to participants. Lindsey Jarrett, founder of Music Across Borders, said her organization operated a live music venue at 515 Music Hub during the tournament but did not see the anticipated increase in foot traffic. The six-month agreement for that venue ended on October 31. Meanwhile, other participants like Erica Muñoz, owner of Madrina Vegana Taqueria, are using the exposure to seek permanent locations. Muñoz estimated that tournament visitors accounted for only 10% to 15% of her customer base during that period.

Nia Webster, the city liaison for Open Doors!, said the program is currently evaluating impact metrics to determine if a second round is viable. She noted that the data will inform how the city approaches similar initiatives in the future. Bo McCall, Johnson County’s strategic initiatives manager, described the regional collaboration built during planning as a lasting asset that will influence the area for decades. Waldron added that the network of relationships formed between agencies will continue to facilitate future cross-departmental projects.