Take it from this new Swiftie: This is Kansas City’s 2nd-greatest year in history | Opinion
Age takes away so much, but it offers a precious gift — the gift of perspective. From my vantage, this past year has been the second best in Kansas City’s esteemed history.
While I was not around in 1869, believe it or not, to join 40,000 fellow Kansas Citians in celebrating the completion of the Hannibal Bridge, I know how important that project was in the history of our great city.
Will you indulge me as I make the argument that this past year is second best? The highlights include:
- A new international airport
- The Chiefs Super Bowl win over the Eagles
- Taylor Swift
- Six World Cup matches coming to Kansas City, the soccer capital of America
- Bobby Witt’s long-term contract extension with the Royals
- The NFL Draft at picturesque Union Station
- CPKC Stadium, the world’s first venue purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team
- Sporting Kansas City’s victory over the top-seeded St. Louis City SC in the MLS playoffs
My 92nd birthday is coming up on Feb. 17. If I had two wishes, they’d be: 1) a win in Las Vegas on Sunday, and 2) Kansas Citians vote yes on April 2, delivering a new downtown stadium for the Royals and a renovated Arrowhead for the Chiefs.
Take it from a long-time resident and short-time Swiftie: We are living in a golden era for Kansas City.
Charles W. Battey served as chairman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in 1986, and as president of Commerce Bank and Sprint.
This story was originally published February 6, 2024 at 11:08 AM.