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What changes in KC when the drinking slows

At least six Kansas City area breweries have closed since early last year, and owners say the bigger loss is the gathering space.

News

Kansas City has lost several breweries, bars and pubs in recent years, leaving fewer places for socialization. Why it matters: Americans are drinking less for good reasons, but bars and taprooms do more than just pour booze — they provide places to gather without a plan.

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

City council approved agreements on community benefits, construction and financing.

The Royals&#x27; downtown stadium is another step closer after City Council on Thursday approved a package of agreements on community benefits, construction and financing. Why it matters: Public documents shed light on what the Royals are promising the city, including funds to address homelessness and benefit public art.

Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early

The U.S. won't become majority-minority until 2046, but four rural Kansas counties and Wyandotte County are already there.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://ipsr.unit2.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/2pop29.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d68a86e0-3cfc-4b0a-a45b-220b4010d145" data-vars-headline="Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ipsr.unit2.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/2pop29.pdf" target="_blank">Census data</a> shows a majority-minority U.S. population is decades away, but four Kansas counties and the metro&#x27;s Wyandotte County have already crossed that line. The big picture: The shift is reshaping the state, from meatpacking towns in southwest Kansas to the metro&#x27;s urban core, part of the nationwide rural trend identified in an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios analysis." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/majority-minority-rural-america-black-latino" data-vars-content-id="d68a86e0-3cfc-4b0a-a45b-220b4010d145" data-vars-headline="Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/majority-minority-rural-america-black-latino" target="_self">Axios analysis.</a>

KC's last 8pm sunset is days away

Most of the country has already lost its late sunsets, but the KC metro has until Aug. 23 to 25 depending on your county.

Most Americans have already seen their final 8pm sunset of the year, but Kansas City still has about a week of late light left.The big picture: We lose a little more light every day as the Earth&#x27;s Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun until Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year.<ul><li>The farther west within a time zone you live, the later your sunsets typically run, and KC sits in the western stretch of the Central time zone.</li></ul>

KC Current's Chawinga makes FIFA history for Malawi

Temwa Chawinga is playing with her sister, Tabitha.

KC Current star forward Temwa Chawinga is leading the Malawi national women&#x27;s team in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic run" data-vars-click-url="https://africa.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49591148/chawinga-sisters-combine-algeria-send-malawi-first-wafcon-final" data-vars-content-id="f619d8cc-7dc7-4856-8a62-b36274e9975f" data-vars-headline="KC Current&#x27;s Chawinga makes FIFA history for Malawi" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://africa.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49591148/chawinga-sisters-combine-algeria-send-malawi-first-wafcon-final" target="_blank">historic run</a> — alongside her sister, Tabitha. The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Malawi qualified" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup/posts/malawi-have-qualified-for-their-first-ever-fifawwc-/1476805494472786/" data-vars-content-id="f619d8cc-7dc7-4856-8a62-b36274e9975f" data-vars-headline="KC Current&#x27;s Chawinga makes FIFA history for Malawi" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup/posts/malawi-have-qualified-for-their-first-ever-fifawwc-/1476805494472786/" target="_blank">Malawi qualified</a> for its first-ever FIFA Women&#x27;s World Cup, thanks to the dynamic scoring duo.

KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations

The three-day PickleCon at the Kansas City Convention Center kicks off Friday.

A massive pickleball event unique to Kansas City is happening this weekend, entering its third year with more registrations than ever before.The big picture: Pickleball is still the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing" data-vars-click-url="https://sfia.org/research/u-s-pickleball-participation/" data-vars-content-id="148125aa-c4ef-452d-a15a-814566b7c714" data-vars-headline="KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sfia.org/research/u-s-pickleball-participation/" target="_blank">fastest-growing</a> sport in the nation despite a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide cooldown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/01/pickleball-surge-petering-out-nationwide" data-vars-content-id="148125aa-c4ef-452d-a15a-814566b7c714" data-vars-headline="KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/01/pickleball-surge-petering-out-nationwide" target="_self">nationwide cooldown</a> on new court construction — and tournament play is heating up in KC.

New Chiefs stadium design mimics Arrowhead

The new renderings are the first real look at the Kansas stadium.

The Chiefs&#x27; new stadium will look a lot like Arrowhead, despite a roof and a relocation across state lines.Why it matters: The new renderings that dropped Wednesday are the first real look at the new stadium following the team&#x27;s controversial decision in December to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="move to Kansas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/12/22/chiefs-move-to-kansas-approved" data-vars-content-id="3cd7c9fe-08f5-467e-9800-cc75f7ba9aad" data-vars-headline="New Chiefs stadium design mimics Arrowhead" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/12/22/chiefs-move-to-kansas-approved" target="_self">move to Kansas</a>.

KC Diamonds near the end of first pro softball season

Five of KC's everyday players are batting over .370.

The KC Diamonds debuted last summer as an exhibition team on a borrowed field. One year later, they have one of the best records in the nation&#x27;s new Professional Softball League.Why it matters: The metro <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has long been a youth softball hot spot" data-vars-click-url="https://kansascityfastpitch.org/kc-diamonds/" data-vars-content-id="e07c92c5-4ff8-4900-9e55-4d73549a0c7e" data-vars-headline="KC Diamonds near the end of first pro softball season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kansascityfastpitch.org/kc-diamonds/" target="_blank">has long been a youth softball hot spot</a>, and now local players can aspire to a successful hometown team.

Kansas City has a World Cup hangover

Hosting the World Cup was "like doing ecstasy."

KC is coming off the high of hosting the World Cup, and now that the tournament is officially over, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup blues" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1350456786466450" data-vars-content-id="b6a7899f-704c-4c3b-833d-8fd6da8c59e8" data-vars-headline="Kansas City has a World Cup hangover" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1350456786466450" target="_blank">World Cup blues</a> are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=28740180575571745" data-vars-content-id="b6a7899f-704c-4c3b-833d-8fd6da8c59e8" data-vars-headline="Kansas City has a World Cup hangover" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=28740180575571745" target="_blank">here</a>.Why it matters: Emotional letdowns after major life events are common — and the World Cup was exactly the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience that can trigger one.

KC's "Soccer Capital" claim has receipts

Leaders say it represents decades of investment that paid off big at the World Cup.

Sports

Kansas City has been calling itself the &quot;Soccer Capital of America&quot; for more than a decade, and despite skeptics and competition from other cities, KC&#x27;s claim runs deep.Why it matters: The phrase isn&#x27;t just a local boast or a title without teeth — it&#x27;s a trademarked slogan, and KC leaders say it represents decades of investment that paid off this summer.

KC "scored" all World Cup long

86% of KC singles say their dating lives heated up during the World Cup, the biggest jump of any U.S. host city.

Dating

Kansas City just beat every other U.S. World Cup host city in one unofficial competition: dating the visitors.Why it matters: Four years ago, a national ranking <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="named KC the worst city for dating in America" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kctv5.com/2022/04/19/kcmo-is-worst-city-dating-according-bestplaces/" data-vars-content-id="1736a878-3120-4f82-88f9-5da582c68055" data-vars-headline="KC &quot;scored&quot; all World Cup long" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kctv5.com/2022/04/19/kcmo-is-worst-city-dating-according-bestplaces/" target="_blank">named KC the worst city for dating in America</a>, citing too few young singles spread across too much sprawl.<ul><li>Apparently, all we needed was the world to come to us.</li></ul>

Team owners: Soccer's future in KC "extremely bright"

Chiefs and Sporting KC owners say the city will continue to feel the World Cup's effects.

Chiefs and Sporting KC owners gathered in the Plaza on Friday to talk about how hosting the World Cup will affect Kansas City in the future.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s role in the tournament is over, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="organizers" data-vars-click-url="https://kansascityfwc26.com/about/" data-vars-content-id="3bdae512-d0a8-426f-b6ec-4d34b0f91c5d" data-vars-headline="Team owners: Soccer&#x27;s future in KC &quot;extremely bright&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kansascityfwc26.com/about/" target="_blank">organizers</a> say KC will continue feeling the effects of a job well done years into the future.

Soak up KC's final World Cup weekend

Kansas City's moment as a host city is almost over.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s the last big weekend for World Cup activities in Kansas City, with the final days of Fan Fest, a couple of major concerts, and the last local match.Why it matters: KC&#x27;s moment as a host city is almost over — but not before Argentina returns to battle Switzerland in a quarterfinal.

Sports 🏅

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

KC Current's Chawinga makes FIFA history for Malawi

KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations

New Chiefs stadium design mimics Arrowhead

KC Diamonds near the end of first pro softball season