Even though Missouri officials have said they want the Tigers to maintain an athletic presence in Kansas City, local leaders wanted to be sure MU is serious about continuing to play games here after it joins the Southeastern Conference.Thats why Jim Heeter, head of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, called a 90-minute meeting Wednesday that included Missouri athletic director Mike Alden and political representatives from Jackson County, Kansas City, the Chiefs and Sprint Center.Heeter came away convinced about MUs desires.It was real clear to me, he said, that Missouri was absolutely sincere in wanting to keep a major presence here in Kansas City.The meeting also showed local leaders have moved past the please dont go stage that began when Missouris talks with the SEC were revealed.I suggest its a great opportunity for Kansas City, Heeter said. We keep our Big 12 base and then expand our base to the SEC. We can make whats already one of the great sports towns in America an even greater sports town. While both sides called this first meeting exploratory, there is some interest in a few of the ideas that were tossed around. Among them were Missouri continuing to play an annual football game in Arrowhead Stadium, and serving as host for a holiday basketball tournament at Sprint Center, which would be reminiscent of the old Big Eight tournament that used to be held around Christmastime.A lot of us would love to see that tournament revive, maybe with former Big Eight schools and maybe even some regional schools like Drake and Creighton, said Heeter, who called it a real possibility though it probably would be difficult to make it happen next season.The group also discussed a possible date for a 2012 football game at Arrowhead, though Heeter and Alden admitted that it might be difficult to make it happen because MU is still trying to finalize its football schedule. We have three games that we need to get for 2012, Alden said. Our focus has got to be on filling out that schedule.Alden said Missouri hopes to have the schedule done by March 1, though he reiterated that one of those games will almost certainly not be against archrival Kansas. Although Missouri was originally scheduled to face the Jayhawks at Arrowhead in 2012 for the annual Border War game, Alden said numerous discussions hes had with KU leaders have not been fruitful.We do want to play Kansas and weve made that pretty clear, Alden said. Its a great rivalry, and we would hope to be able to play that but again, thats a decision thats beyond us. Certainly, the University of Kansas has had to make their decisions, and certainly theyve made their decision clear.In fact, when asked whether he received a direct and final no on Kansas about the upcoming Border War, Alden basically said he had.I would say probably yes, Alden said. I dont know how you would define a direct and final no, but I would say yes.Alden also reiterated the schools desire to bring the SEC mens basketball tournament to Kansas City, possibly as soon as the 2017-18 season.Theyre gonna take a look at bids throughout their entire footprint, which includes KC, said Alden, who added that he spoke with SEC officials Tuesday. I know theyre hoping they would receive a bid and proposal from Kansas City to be able to host their tournament here.Heeter also shot down the belief that Missouris departure for the SEC would hurt the citys chances of keeping the Big 12 basketball tournament in Kansas City. We dont believe thats the case, Heeter said, and the indications are that is not the case.But while optimism ran high about the future Wednesday, Heeter and Alden said numerous times that talks about any of the things discussed were still in the early stages. Heeter said the same group which included Chiefs president Mark Donovan and Chiefs special-events director Gary Spani; Kansas City Mayor Pro-Tem Cindy Circo; Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders; and Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association president Rick Hughes plans to reconvene again in late February or early March to continue discussions as Missouri transitions to the SEC.Missouri has made its decision, Heeter said. I understand why they did.Now whats important to Kansas City is to make lemonade out of that.The Stars Mike DeArmond contributed to this story.

KansasCity.com

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Missouri eases KC jitters

By TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

File photo

Missouri athletic director Mike Alden (left) says the university would like to keep a strong presence in Kansas City.

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That’s why Jim Heeter, head of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, called a 90-minute meeting Wednesday that included Missouri athletic director Mike Alden and political representatives from Jackson County, Kansas City, the Chiefs and Sprint Center.

Heeter came away convinced about MU’s desires.

“It was real clear to me,” he said, “that Missouri was absolutely sincere in wanting to keep a major presence here in Kansas City.”

The meeting also showed local leaders have moved past the “please don’t go” stage that began when Missouri’s talks with the SEC were revealed.

“I suggest it’s a great opportunity for Kansas City,” Heeter said. “We keep our Big 12 base and then expand our base to the SEC. We can make what’s already one of the great sports towns in America an even greater sports town.”

While both sides called this first meeting exploratory, there is some interest in a few of the ideas that were tossed around. Among them were Missouri continuing to play an annual football game in Arrowhead Stadium, and serving as host for a holiday basketball tournament at Sprint Center, which would be reminiscent of the old Big Eight tournament that used to be held around Christmastime.

“A lot of us would love to see that tournament revive, maybe with former Big Eight schools and maybe even some regional schools like Drake and Creighton,” said Heeter, who called it “a real possibility” though it probably would be difficult to make it happen next season.

The group also discussed a possible date for a 2012 football game at Arrowhead, though Heeter and Alden admitted that it might be difficult to make it happen because MU is still trying to finalize its football schedule.

“We have three games that we need to get for 2012,” Alden said. “Our focus has got to be on filling out that schedule.”

Alden said Missouri hopes to have the schedule done by March 1, though he reiterated that one of those games will almost certainly not be against archrival Kansas. Although Missouri was originally scheduled to face the Jayhawks at Arrowhead in 2012 for the annual Border War game, Alden said numerous discussions he’s had with KU leaders have not been fruitful.

“We do” want to play Kansas and “we’ve made that pretty clear,” Alden said. “It’s a great rivalry, and we would hope to be able to play that … but again, that’s a decision that’s beyond us. Certainly, the University of Kansas has had to make their decisions, and certainly they’ve made their decision clear.”

In fact, when asked whether he received a direct and final no on Kansas about the upcoming Border War, Alden basically said he had.

“I would say probably yes,” Alden said. “I don’t know how you would define a ‘direct and final no,’ but I would say yes.”

Alden also reiterated the school’s desire to bring the SEC men’s basketball tournament to Kansas City, possibly as soon as the 2017-18 season.

“They’re gonna take a look at bids throughout their entire footprint, which includes KC,” said Alden, who added that he spoke with SEC officials Tuesday. “I know they’re hoping they would receive a bid and proposal from Kansas City to be able to host their tournament here.”

Heeter also shot down the belief that Missouri’s departure for the SEC would hurt the city’s chances of keeping the Big 12 basketball tournament in Kansas City.

“We don’t believe that’s the case,” Heeter said, “and the indications are that is not the case.”

But while optimism ran high about the future Wednesday, Heeter and Alden said numerous times that talks about any of the things discussed were still in the early stages.

Heeter said the same group — which included Chiefs president Mark Donovan and Chiefs special-events director Gary Spani; Kansas City Mayor Pro-Tem Cindy Circo; Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders; and Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association president Rick Hughes — plans to reconvene again in late February or early March to continue discussions as Missouri transitions to the SEC.

“Missouri has made its decision,” Heeter said. “I understand why they did.

“Now what’s important to Kansas City is to make lemonade out of that.”

The Star’s Mike DeArmond contributed to this story.