Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City, Missouri)

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Municipal Auditorium
Municipal Auditorium Kansas City Missouri.jpg
Location 301 West 13th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Owner City of Kansas City, Missouri
Operator Kansas City, Missouri Convention and Entertainment Facilities
Capacity Arena: 7,300 permanent +2,687 temporary[1]
Construction
Opened 1935
Renovated 2007, 2013
Construction cost $6.5 million
($112 million in 2024 dollars[2])
Architect Gentry, Voskamp & Neville
Hoit, Price & Barnes
Tenants
UMKC Kangaroos (NCAA) (1935–2010; 2013-present)
Kansas City Kings (NBA) (1972–1974; 1979–1980)
Kansas City Attack (NPSL) (1991–1992)
Kansas City Roller Warriors (WFTDA) (2009–present)

Municipal Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility located in Kansas City, Missouri. It opened in 1936 and features Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architecture and architectural details.

Background

Municipal Auditorium was the first building built as part of the "Ten-Year Plan", a bond program that passed by a 4 to 1 margin in 1931. The campaign was run by the Civic Improvement Committee chaired by Conrad H. Mann. Other buildings in the plan included the Kansas City City Hall and the Kansas City branch of the Jackson County Courthouse. The plan was championed by most local politicians including Thomas Pendergast and provided Pendergast with many patronage opportunities during the Great Depression.[3]

Municipal Auditorium replaced Convention Hall which was directly across the street and was torn down for parking in what is now called the Barney Allis Plaza.

The streamline moderne architecture was designed by the lead architectural firm of Alonzo H. Gentry, Voskamp & Neville. Gentry later completed the design of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum after the death of the original architect, Edward F. Neild. Homer F. Neville was the lead designer for Municipal Auditorium. [3]

Hoit, Price & Barnes, the associated architects were responsible for the design of the mechanical work (HVAC, electrical, plumbing). William L. Cassell directed that design effort. [4]

Henry F. McElroy, the choice of Tom Pendergast and other Democratic leaders to be City Manager, [5] announced on January 5th, 1932, that the architectural services for Municipal Auditorium would be divided between the firm of Gentry, Voskamp & Neville and the firm of Hoit, Price & Barnes.[4] In addition, Gentry’s firm would take the lead. The decision was controversial and led to lengthy contract negotiations. Gentry’s firm was much smaller, while Hoit, Price & Barnes were known for their work in designing the Kansas City Power and Light Building, an Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1931; the 32-story Fidelity Bank Building at 909 Walnut; Corinthian Hall; and many more Kansas City buildings and residences. Municipal Auditorium, however, was a public project and Gentry, whose father had been a prominent Democratic politician in Independence, was the preference of the Pendergast machine. Fortunately, according to Neville, there was little interference with the building's design.[3]

When the building opened in 1935, it was called by the Architectural Record "one of the 10 best buildings of the world that year" [6] In 2000, the Princeton Architectural Press called it one of the 500 most important architectural works in the United States.[7]

Municipal Auditorium is connected to the H. Roe Bartle Convention Center by way of skywalks over 13th and Central streets. An underground walkway through a public parking garage provides access to the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Holiday Inn Aladdin Hotel, and the Folly Theater.

The architecture team for Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium. (L to R) William L. Cassell, Edwin M. Price, Homer F. Neville, Henry F. Hoit, Alonzo H. Gentry, Alfred E. Barnes. November, 1935. Folder 6; Alfred Edward Barnes (1892-1960) Architectural Records (K0004); The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center-Kansas City. Photo taken by The Harkins Commercial Photo Co. Kansas City, MO.

Arena

The Arena, nicknamed "Municipal," has hosted the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament since 2003, held every year in early March. When Kansas City hosts the Big 12 Conference tournament, women's games take place here. It is currently home to the NAIA Men's Division I Basketball National Tournament. It was played here from 1937–1975, when it moved into Kemper Arena, and has been home since the Tournament moved back to Kansas City from Tulsa in 2002.

The arena hosted three of the first four Final Fours, but has not hosted an NCAA tournament game since 1964.[8] In 2013, the University of Dayton Arena passed Municipal Auditorium in number of games hosted as that arena hosts the opening round games of the NCAA tournament.

The 19,500-seat Kemper Arena was built in 1974 to accommodate Kansas City's professional basketball teams that had been playing at the Auditorium. The Kansas City Kings played their first two seasons at the Auditorium, then returned for the majority of the 1979–80 season after the roof of Kemper Arena caved in on June 4, 1979.

It is home to the University of Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroos basketball team. Since January 2009, it has been the home of the Kansas City Roller Warriors roller derby league.[9]

The 2013 $5 million renovation included new video boards, LED scorer's table, sound system, lighting, electrical upgrades, and lower level seating.[10]

Music Hall

The Kansas City Music Hall is a large proscenium theatre with a striking Streamline Modern interior that seats an audience of 2,400 patrons. The hall presents touring Broadway shows, as well as visiting symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, and other events. It was the main hall of the Kansas City Philharmonic for several decades. It's also the home of the 1927 Robert-Morton Theatre Pipe Organ that originally was in the Midland Theatre. The organ is owned and maintained by Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, Inc.[11]

Little Theatre

The Little Theatre is an elegant octagonal ballroom with a capacity for 400, or banquet seating for 225 available for catered events, and a private balcony room for up to 36 guests.

Gallery

  • Spring Break 08 074.jpg

    An example of the Art Deco details found throughout Municipal Auditorium.

  • Foyer of
    Little Theatre.

  • Art deco chandelier in Music Hall.

  • Wall decoration in
    Little Theatre.

  • Monumental Art Deco medallion on the front of Municipal Auditorium.

Sports succession history

Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the
Kansas City-Omaha Kings (with Omaha Civic Auditorium)
1972 – 1974		 Succeeded by
Kemper Arena
Preceded by NCAA Men's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
1940 – 42
1953 – 55
1957
1961
1964		 Succeeded by

Madison Square Garden
McGaw Hall
Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall
Memorial Coliseum

References

  1. ↑ http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=18300&ATCLID=1363538
  2. ↑ 1634 to 1699: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1700-1799: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1800–present: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Kidder G.E. Smith (2000), Source Book of American Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 1-56898-253-4
  8. ↑ Official 2007 NCAA Men's Final Four Records Book
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ http://www.umkckangaroos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=18300&ATCLID=1363538
  11. ↑ Kansas City Pipe Organ, Inc.
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