Will Fan Fest close for rain? Is there language help? What to know about KC event
Just days from the first day of FIFA Fan Fest in Kansas City, more questions have been answered for what fans can expect from the 18-day celebration.
On May 27, The Star took a tour around the FIFA Fan Fest grounds, learning the setup of the venue and the process of getting fans in the grounds. Aside from the general questions about the space, we also learned about protocols KC2026 will have for weather, as well as more info for how they prepared for this event.
Here are some more questions that were answered during the tour around the Fan Fest grounds.
What’s the protocol for severe weather during Fan Fest?
KC2026 is working directly with the National Weather Service for its extensive weather plans. Different operational centers will be working across the country to monitor the rain in World Cup cities.
“Unless (the rain) becomes so heavy that you can’t see, we’ll still be open,” said Mallory Cage, director of Fan Festival and events for KC2026.
“If there’s lightning or high winds, that is when we will clear the space,” Cage said. “We have various protocols. As we hit those different levers, we might have to make some calls.”
Cage said if it thunders and there are flashes of lightning, the site will be cleared. KC2026 will have to wait at least 30 minutes from the last lightning strike before fans can come back in. Fans will have to go through security again if they return.
Will language services be available on Fan Fest?
KC2026 will have help from volunteers who speak different languages. There will be QR codes available to will help fans translate things. Cage said that the public announcements and screens will have messages in different languages as well.
What will make the KC Fan Fest unique?
Kansas City is one of the few Fan Fest sites that are completely free to get into. For example, Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is charging $10 per person to get inside. Cage said that was a big focus for the organization when putting Fan Fest together.
She also said this is one of the few Fan Fests that will have headlining music acts performing.
Cage also mentioned the Kansas City spin on Fan Fest makes it unique, adding local twists like the 65-foot heart and the towers honoring the 200+ fountains in Kansas City.
“Kansas City has shown up in a way to host this event that I think is unique to Kansas City. We want to really make sure the folks that are traveling from all over the country and the world get to see that through what we do,” Cage said.
Has KC2026 learned from the 2023 NFL Draft?
When the NFL Draft came to Kansas City in 2023, the World War I Museum was one of the main sites for the event alongside Union Station.
Cage was asked if what the city saw with the draft will help KC2026 operate the draft. She talked about making the most out of the month of festivities during the World Cup, as the draft was only three days long.
“How we prepare for that long of a period of time of potential disruption for the community. We learned a lot about how to communicate with the businesses and residents in the area, how we can work with them, and then also just what are ways that, because of the length of time, we can bring in more local flavor to this,” she said.
That communication likely included talks about the street closures surrounding the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Over at Arrowhead Stadium, some residents who live around the stadium will need a permit to park in their neighborhood.
Will there be spaces to play soccer?
There will be designated areas for soccer fans and kids to kick the soccer ball around during Fan Fest. Clinics will be sponsored by Sporting KC. The space will likely be in the open space near the premium garden and the live stage.
When we took a tour, there were questions about which local food vendors will be at Fan Fest. That question has since been answered, with KC2026 revealing 20 food stalls that will be present, featuring local favorite’s such as Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, Taco Naco, Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop and more.
Fan Fest begins Thursday, June 11, and will be open from 1 to 6 p.m.
Have more questions about joining in on World Cup fun? Email Rashad Alexander at ralexander@kcstar.com.
