After we wound down from the parking garage next to the Sprint Center, we belched out onto 13th Street in downtown Kansas City. Soon we were in front of Municipal Auditorium.
Gee, I wondered, how many people remember when Kansas University’s men’s basketball team played in Municipal Auditorium?
The last time the Jayhawks played there was in December of 1973 in the old Big Eight Holiday Tournament, so the majority of folks who were on hand 34 years ago probably have Medicare cards in their wallets and purses today.
At the same time, most of them also have seen the Jayhawks perform in three different Kansas City venues – Municipal, Kemper Arena and the Sprint Center – each time marveling, no doubt, at the upgraded amenities.
In the early ’70s, anything would have been better than Municipal Auditorium – essentially a concrete box with art deco overtones – and Kemper Arena was.
Kemper’s erector-set design made it distinctive. Parking was more prolific, and the new barn had the feel of a big-time arena. The inside was cramped, however, and the location was misguided because, while it was close to downtown, it wasn’t readily accessible from the high-rise hotels.
So now they have the Sprint Center, which boasts wide concourses, a pleasant open feeling, plentiful luxury boxes and a location with the potential to revitalize the downtown that became a tomb.
Still, the Sprint Center is less form than function. There’s little to distinguish it from other contemporary arenas. What I dislike most is the black decor. The Darth Vader seats are OK, I guess, but I think they’re making a mistake with the black end zones and the black lettering on the basketball floor.
I assume they opted for black markings because they’re waiting to land an anchor pro franchise, then switch to its colors. That makes sense. In the meantime, though, K.C. fathers should consider placing a big logo in the middle of the court, much like the gargantuan Jayhawk in the middle of the Allen Fieldhouse floor.
Having Garth Brooks and Hannah Montana perform at the Sprint Center was great. But having a city logo – whether it be a fountain or the Scout or the Liberty Memorial or just the initials K.C. – appear on national television is priceless.
Heck, the whole purpose of constructing the multi-million dollar arena was to publicize the city, yet that drab black lettering certainly isn’t doing anything for the city’s image.
While in the Sprint Center, I mentioned to someone how great it would be if Kansas University had a similar arena in Lawrence, someplace like North Carolina’s Dean Dome or Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.
As you know, though, any talk of replacing Allen Fieldhouse is blasphemy. That’s like suggesting they change the name of Sixth Street to Quantrill Avenue.
Eventually, though, Allen Fieldhouse will have to be replaced. When, nobody knows. The Home of the Jayhawks could last as long as the Rock of Gibraltar, as sturdily as it was constructed in 1955.
Municipal Auditorium was built just as solidly in 1936, and it’s still going strong. In fact, the same night the Jayhawks played Ohio U., UMKC was playing host to Wichita State. And, as you may know, they’re still staging the Big 12 Conference postseason women’s tournament there.
So if Municipal Auditorium is any indicator, Allen Fieldhouse will certainly remain viable 20 years from now. And beyond.
