American Royal

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Currently located in the historic West Bottoms neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, the American Royal, a 501(c)3 organization, is transitioning operations to its new location in Wyandotte County, KS, in September 2026 with the goal of fully relocating all events by 2029.

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The new campus features over one million square feet of programmed educational spaces, including an 80,000-square-foot learning and engagement center, five livestock barns, an exhibition hall, storage and trailer parking, and support buildings. The expanded footprint will be home to the organization’s many iconic annual events, including the pro and youth rodeos, Livestock Show, auctions, the “World Series of Barbeque,” and more.

The two-story engagement center will tell the story of American agriculture and food systems, featuring a 750-seat amphitheater, nine interactive exhibit zones, culinary labs, and gallery spaces. Annually, American Royal welcomes nearly half a million youth and adults from around the world to engage with one-of-a-kind programming, advancing generational investment in the future of food and agriculture.

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Catalytic in nature, the new campus supports the organization’s 127-year legacy as a premier food and agriculture destination, anchoring a growing district that will bring like-minded companies, institutions, and businesses to the region.

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The design concept was inspired by American Royal’s history of ingenuity and pays homage to its original home in Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms. Designed with the visitor experience in mind, the site planning, architecture, interiors, and experiential graphics draw on the innate beauty and resourcefulness of cultivating food. Familiar forms and reclaimed materials are used in signature moments, reinforcing the site’s connection to the natural world.