American Royal Debuts Its New Facility This Fall
A new chapter for the American Royal begins this fall as the organization welcomes competitors, exhibitors, and the community to its new home in Kansas City, Kansas. As part of this milestone, four of the American Royal’s cornerstone events will be held at the new facility:
The Royal Showcase Horse Show: September 12-13
Cutting Horse Show: September 18-21
World Series of Barbecue®: September 30-October 4
Fall Livestock Show: October 9-25
"This moment marks a meaningful step forward for the American Royal and the people who make it what it is,” said Pat Macy, chief executive officer of the American Royal. “These events have such deep roots, and being able to bring them to our new home is something we’ve been working toward for a long time.”
For the first time in its 127-year history, the American Royal will host events on a campus it owns. Construction on five livestock barns and an exhibition hall, which totals 390,000 square feet, is approximately 80% complete and on track for a September opening.The new site, near 118th Street and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, is being developed as a year-round destination for agriculture, education, and events, bringing together competition spaces, educational programming, and community experiences in one location.
Looking ahead, the campus will include an 80,000-square-foot learning and engagement center designed to tell the full story of American agriculture and food systems. The two-story center will feature a 750-seat amphitheater, nine interactive exhibit zones, cooking and culinary labs, and dedicated galleries celebrating the history and champions of the American Royal.
“Having a campus with this kind of scale and flexibility allows us to build on what the American Royal has become over the past 127 years,” said Macy. “We’re excited to begin this transition to our new home and start hosting events here this fall, even as development continues. This is the beginning of the American Royal’s next chapter.”
The American Royal will continue transitioning additional events to the new facility as development progresses, with a goal of fully relocating by 2029. Some events and operations will remain in the West Bottoms during this transition. The organization remains committed to its deep roots in the Kansas City region and continuing its purpose of championing food and agriculture.
Event details will be updated at americanroyal.com/about/ournewhome. For questions, contact info@americanroyal.com and follow the American Royal Association on social media for the latest updates.