Hy-VEe Arena
An Arena for All Ages & Abilities
some nachos or a hot dog,” said Carter. “Instead, they can go shopping, or there are activities for younger siblings who get the wiggles.” Activities will include escape rooms, golf simulators, an arcade, and a fitness center. Sports health and technology services are also available. For example, St. Luke’s Sports Medicine is on-site, offering injury evaluation and triage, as well as massage and compression therapy to help with recovery. While the tournaments and big events keep Hy-Vee Arena humming during the weekends (all but six weekends in 2019 were already booked as of November 2018), the developers made sure the facility would stay busy during the week, as well. Long-term office tenants have set up shop in the building. In the future, the facility will offer co-working space. But even during the workweek, the focus is on recreation. The facility is the new headquarters for KC Crew, an adult recreational sports league; and Midwest Adaptive Sports (MAS), a non-profit organization that provides adaptive recreational and competitive- sports opportunities to those with physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Both organizations run programs at Hy-Vee Arena throughout the week.
“It’s been really difficult to find gym space in Kansas City,” said Matt Bollig, who heads up wheelchair basketball and youth sports for MAS. “Being in the Hy-Vee Arena has allowed us to take MAS to another level.” Currently, youth and adult wheelchair basketball teams practice at the facility, and Bollig is hopeful to bring some big national wheelchair basketball tournaments to the arena. “Being here has definitely brought us more attention and exposure,” said Bollig. “And who knows who will see our sign and be inspired by it.” Luke Wade, founder of KC Crew, said Hy-Vee Arena has created a “one-stop shop for everything we need.” Since they started running leagues out of the arena in September, about 1,000 people each week have participated in KC Crew leagues Sunday through Thursday. “This means a lot to our city,” said Wade. “You’ll see people playing pickup games over lunchtime. It’s really cool to see the adaptive sports, youth volleyball, pickleball… It’s really neat to see all different types of people out doing sports, from all walks of life. “Once all of the vendors are up and running, it’s going to be amazing,” Wade added. “It’s becoming its own little ecosystem.”
A NEW APPROACH TO YOUTH SPORTS With all of the parts falling in place—the floor, the amenities, the tournaments, and the organizations to help get people in the door—Steve Foutch turns his attention to a larger mission, one that was the original inspiration for Hy-Vee Arena: reimagining youth sports. “The sport is the carrot to get them here,” said Foutch. “Then, what else? What else makes their life whole? What else are they missing?” Foutch is the father of a son in college, who currently runs track for UMKC; and a daughter in high school, who is working toward a rowing scholarship. Over the years, he’s navigated the waters of youth club sports—for example, watching his son compete in increasingly cutthroat and rigorous soccer programs. “I’ve watched, psychologically and physically what we’re doing to the youth,” said Foutch. “We’re pushing them harder and harder, younger and younger, thinking they’re all going to be pro athletes and get a free college education, and everything is win, win, win—and they’re only five years old!” With Hy-Vee Arena, Foutch hopes to create a supportive community for parents and young athletes. It’s a community that might help parents avoid some of the mistakes Foutch feels he made with his own kids. “Hopefully we’re sort of a parent to the parents as well, saying, ‘Slow up a little bit. Don’t talk to your kids like that. Don’t talk to the coaches like that. Let them do their thing.’ “We’ll get them the training they need,” added Foutch. “We’ll get them as far as they can, so we’re helping facilitate them on a more natural scale, and at a more logical speed.”
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WINTER 2019
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