Prepare to walk: Here’s how you can get to FIFA Fan Fest in Kansas City
For those who plan to attend the FIFA Fan Fest in Kansas City, wearing a good pair of walking shoes is highly recommended.
With multiple roads being blocked off around the National WWI Museum and Memorial, public transit and walking will be key to getting to the Fan Fest grounds. There’s roughly 40,000 parking spaces in downtown Kansas City, but there are multiple ways to get to Fan Fest.
The most convenient way to get there is the KC Streetcar. The stop at the WWI museum is near the intersection of Main Street and Memorial Drive. From there, riders can walk to the main entrance, which is roughly five minutes away.
The street car is free and it primarily runs along Main Street. There are options to park near a streetcar stop, including by the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, River Market, downtown and other areas.
Taking advantage of the city’s extended public transportation service this summer is also advisable. Several east-west routes will see longer hours and more frequency during June and July to help link riders to the streetcar and the World Cup Fan Fest on the grounds of the WWI museum.
The extended service will start June 7 and end July 11. The bus agency will stage buses to handle potential overflow crowds or delays on the streetcar, among other improvements through the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA) during the World Cup.
Remember, the Kansas City buses are no longer free. That recently changed, and passengers will either need a bus pass or a debit/credit card to get on it.
In addition to the buses, a separate shuttle KC2026 is offering a separate shuttle to help folks from the surrounding region get to Fan Fest and Kansas City Stadium. The shuttle service costs $5 for a day pass, $25 for a full week and $50 for unlimited rides throughout the tournament. The shuttle will operate from 10 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The ConnectKC26 bus mall is located at 2644 Warwick Trafficway, roughly two blocks from the Fan Fest grounds. More information on real time service locations and transportation options can be found on kansascityfwc26.com.
These are the 15 ConnectKC26 shuttle locations:
- Boardwalk Square: 8600 N. Boardwalk Ave., Kansas City, MO.
- Independence Center: 18801 E. 39th Street, Independence, MO.
- Independence Square: 13910 E. Truman Road, Independence, MO.
- KC Zoo and Starlight Theatre: 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO.
- Lawrence: 2315 Bob Billings Parkway, Lawrence, KS.
- Lee’s Summit: 206 SW Market Street, Lee’s Summit, MO.
- The Legends: 10824 Parallel Parkway SPC 700, Kansas City, KS.
- Lenexa City Center: 8700 Scarborough St., Lenexa, KS.
- Liberty: 1915 College Street, Liberty, MO.
- Mission Transit Center: 5251 Johnson Drive, Mission, KS.
- North Kansas City: 520 E. 19th Street, Overland Park, KS.
- Oak Park Mall: 11855 W. 95th Street, Overland Park, KS.
- Overland Park Convention Center: 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS.
- Worlds of Fun: 4545 N.E. Worlds of Fun Drive, Kansas City, MO.
- 3-Trails Transit Center: 9449 Blue Ridge Boulevard, Kansas City, MO.
Buses will run every 15 to 20 minutes at the KCI airport and the regional bus stops.
Parking is available at Union Station, which includes its south Plaza lot and the parking garage. Anytime parking is $15 for the south plaza lot, while the garage will run you $7 for up to four hours, increasing more if you stay longer than that.
Union Station said that prices are subject to change, especially during peak demand tied to events happening in the area. The walk from Union Station to the museum is roughly 11 minutes, though it is a hilly walk.
The next best parking lot option is the Crown Center lot, which would be about an 8-minute walk to the Fan Fest grounds. Parking costs starts at $11 for an hour and increases the longer you stay.
Fan Fest begins Thursday, June 11, and will be open from 1 to 6 p.m.
