Pandemic causes American Royal to nix World Series of Barbecue for the first time ever
The pandemic has caused the American Royal to cancel its 41st World Series of Barbecue, the world’s largest barbecue competition.
Glen Alan Phillips, president and CEO of the American Royal Association, said the organization explored all manner of options to keep the competition going this fall. But it couldn’t find a way to create a safe and financially viable event.
“It gets really challenging to have a large public component to your event, which then leads to major financial revenue issues with not being able to sell tickets,” Phillips said.
The event was scheduled for September 17 to 20 at the Kansas Speedway. All teams registered for this year’s competition will receive a full refund and will have access to their spots in the 2021 competition.
Phillips said canceling now should allow the organization to limit its losses and give teams advance notice: the event draws barbecue lovers from more than 30 states and multiple countries. The American Royal has never before had to cancel its barbecue competition, its largest fundraising effort.
“It was painful,” Phillips said. “It was very difficult to make that decision.”
Next year’s event is tentatively scheduled for September 16 to 19.
The American Royal also canceled its 2020 Pro Rodeo, which was scheduled for September 25-26. But Phillips said most equine shows and the livestock show will continue as planned this year. Those events revolve less around ticketed spectators, which makes it easier to practice social distancing, he said.
In December, the American Royal announced it would begin construction in 2020 on a new agriculture complex just northwest of the speedway.
The organization in 2016 announced it planned to leave the West Bottoms, its home since 1899. Officials late last year said the acquisition of 115 acres in Wyandotte County and a preliminary development plan showed that the massive project was moving forward.
Phillips said it’s not clear if construction will begin this year.
“We’re still studying that. There’s truly not an answer at the moment,” he said. “We are just trying to be very responsible to all our donors and supporters out there.”
Phillips said the organization continues raising funds for an eventual move but it’s currently weighing how the pandemic may change design and construction decisions.
“We are still very excited about the new project and our opportunity to move,” he said. But “we are just like many businesses and individuals out there. We’re having to look at potential adjustments based upon the current situation we’re all living in.”
