I know absolutely nothing about World Cup Soccer, which is my base knowledge on most issues that I have an opinion on. That being said, I am very confused about the forthcoming soccer experience headed to Kansas City in 2026. The learning curve on this thing seems a bit wide. In one news report, I hear that houses throughout the metro may be rented out for a month to host the fans of this event. That sounds cool.
Then another news report tells me that the local officials say we need to build or assign space for a temporary jail to handle the World Cup crowds that will be in our area. That seems not so great. Are the same people that are renting our houses also going to be in the new jail? Seems like a different customer base, but again, I’m no expert.
Another report said that “we” should expect encampments of fans in right-of-ways and parks” around the city. That sounds remarkably close to “homeless” fans, but again, I’m no expert.
Naturally, I am sure that we are prepared. The Kansas City Streetcar will probably solve all these problems, so you don’t need to worry yourself. Just get your respective house/jail or local right of way and parks looking pretty and everything should be fine.
One local station reported that you could make $20,000 renting out your house for a month during the World Cup. That should adequately cover your HOA fines and court costs with your local city for violating zoning laws, so let it rip. I’m joking, surely this is fail proof way to make some money next year. Dave Ramsey would probably give his approval.
The City of Parkville is already out ahead of this one. They have lifted some of their housing laws to accommodate the event that is scheduled to be June 11 through July 19. They also reminded everyone that they would need to pay for a license for the rental and the obligatory 5% tourism tax, just for funsies. I’m sure other cities have done the same, but I don’t really like to do research for an opinion column.
I’ve never played or watched more than a minute of real soccer without an ulterior motive or requirement. I kind of liked the Kansas City Comets and Gino Schiraldi back in the day, but that was my peak beer drinking days and any event that allowed multiple beers to be consumed was cool with me.
My daughter played soccer when she was little, I don’t think she was particularly good, because she didn’t keep playing until years later when she played a year of JV soccer on some sort of “find herself” mission. All I remember is it rained a lot that year.
Anyway, World Cup soccer is not running through my veins, so don’t take your World Cup advice from me. Do your own research.
I went ahead and did some research. Seems as though the Kansas City Council has approved plans and $22 million American dollars to build a modular jail with one hundred beds. Platte County officials are going to be very jealous of this thing. Probably won’t even have any rusty vents.
They’re going to put the World Cup criminals in the East Bottoms. Not sure if they’ll ride the Streetcar to get there, I guess that is to be determined. Cops will probably need some special “World Cup” ATVs or something.
One council member voted no. KCUR quoted him as saying “If we continue to pursue detention, incarceration, and spend millions upon millions upon millions of dollars on that … how much money is going to be left over for rehabilitation and reintegration?”
If you’re a taxpayer, at least you saved yourself the money to have to rehab and reintegrate the World Cup criminals, consider it a win.
(Guy Speckman can be reached trying to book a tour of the World Cup modular jail)
