Embroiled pop star comes to Kansas City after her trip to space: What to know
Get ready to “Roar” as Katy Perry performs in Kansas City on Saturday, May 10.
Back from her 10-minute trip to space, the “California Gurls” singer will take the stage at the T-Mobile Center on her Lifetimes Tour. The performance comes at the start of Perry’s 7 1/2 month international tour, which began in Mexico on April 29.
While she’s traveled the world, Perry has frequently performed in Kansas City. Starting with a 2009 performance at the now-closed Beaumont Club in Westport, Perry has stopped in Kansas City on all five of her tours. Kansas City, Kansas, native Janelle Monáe opened for Perry on the 2011 California Dreams Tour.
Perry is expected to perform songs from her most recent album, “143,” along with her classic hits like “Teenage Dream” and “I Kissed a Girl.” Viral “Friday” singer-turned-hyperpop star Rebecca Black is set to open for Perry.
As part of the Lifetimes Tour’s video game storyline, Perry flies around arenas on a mechanical winged creature and battles flying dancers with lightsabers. Perry told the AP that the visuals were inspired by sci-fi works like “Blade Runner.”
The pop star has recently received negative press. Her April all-woman trip on a Blue Origin rocket was widely criticized as a wasteful publicity stunt, and her 2024 single “Woman’s World” received many negative reviews.
Just this week, she posted AI images showing her at the 2025 Met Gala, which she did not attend.
If you want to see some of Perry’s previous famous outfits in person, they are on display at Johnson County Community College’s Nerman Museum as part of an exhibit of the fashion of Kansas City-born Jeremy Scott. The free exhibit is on view through July.
Whether you’re a die-hard KatyCat or just love singing along to “Firework,” here’s what you should know about Perry’s KC concert.
How much are tickets?
Tickets are still available on the Ticketmaster website as of Wednesday afternoon. Prices including fees range from $80 for seats in the upper section to $374 for floor tickets close to the infinity sign-shaped catwalk.
Here’s how the lowest ticket prices compare on resale sites as of Wednesday:
Vivid Seats: $73 before fees
StubHub: $64 before fees
SeatGeek: $69 before fees
Tickets for Less: $105 with no fees
What time does Katy Perry go on stage?
Katy Perry takes the T-Mobile Center stage at 8:30 p.m., according to the venue. Opener Rebecca Black starts at 7 p.m.
The T-Mobile Center doors open at 5:30 p.m.
If your cellphone provider is T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile or MINT, you can enter through the expedited T-Mobile gate on Grand Boulevard when the doors open.
The venue is cashless, so you can only buy concert merchandise with credit and debit cards or contactless payment methods, like Apple Pay.
What is Katy Perry’s set list?
While Perry could bust out any song Saturday, tour promoter Live Nation shared a predicted set list on its website. Perry’s performance typically lasts two hours, according to users of Setlist.fm.
What can and can’t I bring to T-Mobile Center?
T-Mobile Center does not have a clear bag policy, but the venue encourages fans to pack lightly when attending. Your bag should not be larger than 12” by 6” by 12”, and don’t bring backpacks or coolers.
These other items are not allowed inside:
Artificial noisemakers
Beach balls and balloons
Cameras with detachable lenses
Coolers and containers
Laptop and tablet computers
Outside food and beverages
Pocket knives
Selfie sticks
Spurs
Umbrellas with spike-like points
Any type of weapon, fake weapon or object resembling a weapon
Where can I park in downtown Kansas City?
Downtown Kansas City has plenty of parking available near T-Mobile Center. The arena offers on-site parking at the magenta lot at 14th and Oak, and off-site parking in the red lot at 12th and Oak streets and the yellow lot at 13th Street and Grand Boulevard, which is the KC Live! garage.
You will have to purchase passes to these lots in advance online. The magenta lot costs $150, the red lot costs $20 and the yellow lot costs $25 before online fees. Event parking opens two hours before the concert.
Other than those, there are over 40,000 parking spaces in the downtown area. Many are paid lots, and street parking is available, though it may cost up to $40 during events like these.
You can also park farther away and take the free KC Streetcar to the stop 14th and Main streets, the closest to T-Mobile Center.
Where can I be dropped off and picked up for the concert?
Grand Boulevard and Oak Street in front of T-Mobile Center will be blocked off for the Katy Perry concert. In addition, portions of I-670 will be closed over the weekend, which could increase concert traffic.
If you’re being dropped off by a family, friend, Uber or Lyft, they can take you as close to the 13th and Oak Street entrance as possible. They may also drop you off on streets that aren’t blocked off in the Power & Light District or farther away if walking isn’t an issue.
The same is true for picking up concertgoers after the show. Communicate with your driver so they can find you once the show’s over.
