Before World Cup, KCI worried about concession sales. What do the numbers say?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- KCI concessions recorded their best sales day since the new terminal opened in 2023.
- Food and beverage sales at KCI are up 15% over the terminal’s 2024 record.
- Departure days after Argentina and Ecuador matches became the airport’s busiest.
In the run-up to 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, Richard Chinsammy was open about being “apprehensive” and “cautiously optimistic.”
Chinsammy, the vice president of St Louis-based OHM Concessions Group, oversees sales and operations at Kansas City International Airport’s nearly 50 food concession operators.
“Concerns are: Are we going to get the traffic flow that we anticipated a year and a half ago,” Chinsammy said at the start of May, doubtful of the city’s oft-projected 650,000 visitors.
He was concerned about inflated hotel prices, and World Cup ticket prices. He wondered how many people would actually come to Kansas City from foreign nations, given that KCI is not a major hub, and thus requires travelers to take at least two flights to arrive.
Best sales days since the new terminal opened in 2023
Now, fifteen days after the June 11 start of the tournament — one that has attracted a flood of fans from Argentina, Algeria, Netherlands, Tunisia, Curaçao and Ecuador — Chinsammy’s airport fears have settled in for a landing.
“Kansas City has cemented itself as the soccer capital of the USA,” Chinsammy said on Friday, “and we’re feeling it directly at the airport. We’ve had record days after the KC matches.”
On June 17, the day after star Lionel Messi of Argentina scored three goals to defeat Algeria 3-0, Chinsammy said, KCI’s concessions recorded their best sales day since the new terminal opened on February 28, 2023.
Food and beverages sales are up 15% over the terminal’s previous record set in 2024.
“In fact, the departure days following both matches so far,” Chinsammy said of the days after the Argentina vs. Algeria match and the June 20 Ecuador vs. Curaçao match, “are now the two busiest days the airport has seen since opening.
“We’ll see where today, after (Thursday’s) orange invasion by Netherlands fans and Sunday, after Saturday’s match (Algeria vs. Austria on June 27) land.”
Others not as fortunate as KCI
Kansas City International’s positive experience has not been replicated across the metro, where bars and restaurants are having a mixed World Cup experience. Some restaurants, particularly barbecue restaurants, are doing well. Other venues are not.
A pattern is now clear, managers said. Sales and tourism tend to be up on the days just prior to matches at Arrowhead Stadium, rebranded Kansas City Stadium during the tournament, and on the day after.
Businesses where the mass of tourists are gathering — such as along Kansas City’s Main Street streetcar route, around the FIFA Fan Festival, and in the Power and Light District — also tend to be doing better overall.
However, some managers note that they are seeing fewer local customers during the games. The loss of local customers has depressed sales overall for some businesses. Others say it has softened any World Cup gains.
‘Amazing . . . not doom and gloom’
“Our local and national brand partners have all stepped up with fan activations across the airport: music, giveaways, airport exclusives,” Chinsammy said.
“It’s been an amazing, supportive community effort, and fans are in love with our KC barbecue.”
Chinsammy credited work done throughout the community, and particularly the Vantage Group, which developed KCI’s concession program, the Kansas City Aviation Department and the leadership of Kansas City, Missouri.
“We’re excited to see how this progresses,” he said. “It certainly hasn’t been the doom and gloom we were told to expect, at least not at the airport.”
