Clay and Platte counties want visitors to ‘go north’ for World Cup celebrations
As Kansas City begins to transform into an international hub for FIFA World Cup matches and watch parties this week, local tourism officials are working to ensure fans don’t just stay south of the river.
Over the next four weeks, tourism leaders in Clay and Platte counties hope to draw World Cup visitors to the Northland through their mission Go North KC, an in-depth, “streamlined” source for events, activities and things to do — from Worlds of Fun to watch parties, restaurants and wineries.
“Giving our locals and our visitors one single place to look up any community events, highlighting what’s unique and special about all of them, all under one roof,” said Megan Sahlfeld, tourism and marketing manager for Clay County. “That’s the mission, and we’re going to continue to add to that.”
Go North KC, created to unite the Northland’s tourism efforts throughout the World Cup, highlights a variety of events happening across Clay and Platte counties in June and July, including farmers markets, wine festivals, outdoor movie screenings and Fourth of July celebrations.
The initiative’s website also features a World Cup section, outlining proper soccer terminology, tips for getting around the Northland and weekly watch parties hosted or promoted by Go North KC.
Seven watch parties throughout the World Cup are planned in the Northland, according to the website, including one held Friday evening for Team USA’s match against Paraguay at 8 p.m. Another party will be held next week for Kansas City’s first match featuring Argentina and Algeria on Tuesday.
“We’re just really excited to kick off our watch parties and see all our hard work come to fruition,” Sahlfeld said.
The site also highlights fun things to do in each city in the Northland.
Sahlfeld first teamed up with Platte County’s tourism department around 18 months ago when they began discussing ways the two entities could take advantage of the upcoming World Cup and promote communities across Northland as one.
Since then, Sahlfeld said they’ve garnered a lot of interest from Northlanders across each county, working together to promote small businesses, locally-owned breweries and community events.
“It’s so much better together. If we want to lean into the Northland community, we cannot leave our friends over in Platte County out,” Sahlfeld said. “We have to do it together. It just makes sense.”
But the conclusion of the World Cup in Kansas City on July 11 won’t mark the end of Go North KC, Sahlfield said.
Even after the pitch inside Arrowhead Stadium is transformed back into a football field and fans sporting Lionel Messi kits from across the world catch flights home, Sahlfeld hopes the Northland will remain a destination for visitors and locals alike, and plans to continue the Go North KC initiative to showcase communities north of the river beyond the worldwide event.
“I am just incredibly humbled by how amazing our Northland communities have come together and it’s all been in such a positive, shared interest and shared value kind of way,” Sahlfeld said. “This is just proof that we can do this, and we’re going to continue to do it.”
