Some real numbers for KC, not cherry picked. Things could be a lot better for KC's economy (modern, reality)

[KC_Sleuth]

Originally Posted by shindig

You mention tourist and media....you really think a family isn't going to visit KC because of its airport? KC isn't really on most peoples radar as a place to spend a vacation, except those that live in a 500 mile radius (i.e. Wichita, Omaha, Des Moine, Springfield and all the thousands of small towns in the mid-west). I doubt too many people from the East or West coasts visit KC except for seeing family/friends.

I'm fine with building a new terminal or renovating, I really have no fight in it, but lets not go overboard. There are a lot of crappy airports in this country and a lot of nice airports. Whenever I travel, I could care less, I just want to get the heck out of the airport asap and onto my destination.

The airport is an emblem of the larger problem. KC does not do enough to market itself as a "destination" to bring in money out of the community. KC-area residents spending their money within the metro is an important driver of economic development, but bringing in outside spending, considering the multiplier effect, also drives a lot of economic growth. My visit to ATL this past weekend gave me some takeaways on what KC could or should do to become a destination city, not just a place where people in Nebraska and Oklahoma come to for a few fun things they can't find in Lincoln, Omaha, or Tulsa. I am not talking about massive infrastructral changes here: I actually think our suburbs are quite nice. But I am talking about aggressive marketing, creating "signature" items that are inviting to people who live in, say North Carolina or Texas or Pennsylvania; we actually have some of these items and do a terrible job of marketing them nationally. Other things, like a top-notch airport, would leave impressions on visitors.

Think of a city like a hotel: we can care only about what makes the permanent residents and employees happy, or we can focus on bringing in new business. The latter is how we become a better city; in turn, we stand to benefit because we become better people in the view of national opinion. We can complain that people view the lot of us KC residents as "flyover country" people who are not the best and brightest...or we can make the improvements and market the city to recruit those best and brightest here, and raise the collective quality of our citizenry.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by KC_Sleuth

The airport is an emblem of the larger problem. KC does not do enough to market itself as a "destination" to bring in money out of the community. KC-area residents spending their money within the metro is an important driver of economic development, but bringing in outside spending, considering the multiplier effect, also drives a lot of economic growth. My visit to ATL this past weekend gave me some takeaways on what KC could or should do to become a destination city, not just a place where people in Nebraska and Oklahoma come to for a few fun things they can't find in Lincoln, Omaha, or Tulsa. I am not talking about massive infrastructral changes here: I actually think our suburbs are quite nice. But I am talking about aggressive marketing, creating "signature" items that are inviting to people who live in, say North Carolina or Texas or Pennsylvania; we actually have some of these items and do a terrible job of marketing them nationally. Other things, like a top-notch airport, would leave impressions on visitors.

Think of a city like a hotel: we can care only about what makes the permanent residents and employees happy, or we can focus on bringing in new business. The latter is how we become a better city; in turn, we stand to benefit because we become better people in the view of national opinion. We can complain that people view the lot of us KC residents as "flyover country" people who are not the best and brightest...or we can make the improvements and market the city to recruit those best and brightest here, and raise the collective quality of our citizenry.

While Indy, Nashville even MSP and others struggle with similar "flyover country" issues, I think they are doing a better job at this overall.

Honestly, despite its problems, I think KC would offer more to tourists than Indy or Nashville. There is just a lot to do in KC and it's a historically larger and more mature urban city, but if you ask 100 people on the coasts which city they would like to visit for a few days, I'll bet you that KC would be a pretty distant third place.

KC has an identity problem and while people blow that off, I really do think it has some effect on the city economically. Once you get people to KC and can show them around, It's nearly impossible to not impress them, but getting them to KC in the first place is nearly impossible unless a job is forcing somebody because they have no other choice. KC is no better nor does it offer any more than Wichita, Boise, Peoria etc in most people's minds.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to change the false image that KC has.

[brandthom]

Originally Posted by KC_Sleuth

The airport is an emblem of the larger problem. KC does not do enough to market itself as a "destination" to bring in money out of the community. KC-area residents spending their money within the metro is an important driver of economic development, but bringing in outside spending, considering the multiplier effect, also drives a lot of economic growth. My visit to ATL this past weekend gave me some takeaways on what KC could or should do to become a destination city, not just a place where people in Nebraska and Oklahoma come to for a few fun things they can't find in Lincoln, Omaha, or Tulsa. I am not talking about massive infrastructral changes here: I actually think our suburbs are quite nice. But I am talking about aggressive marketing, creating "signature" items that are inviting to people who live in, say North Carolina or Texas or Pennsylvania; we actually have some of these items and do a terrible job of marketing them nationally. Other things, like a top-notch airport, would leave impressions on visitors.

Think of a city like a hotel: we can care only about what makes the permanent residents and employees happy, or we can focus on bringing in new business. The latter is how we become a better city; in turn, we stand to benefit because we become better people in the view of national opinion. We can complain that people view the lot of us KC residents as "flyover country" people who are not the best and brightest...or we can make the improvements and market the city to recruit those best and brightest here, and raise the collective quality of our citizenry.

This post. Marketing and image to me, as i've said previously, definitely seems like a big if not the biggest problem right now. Not the city itself. The city isn't why people aren't drawn here, its the city's false image, and up until recently the city has done little to quell the image. The problem isn't keeping people here once they get here, its getting people to come here in the first place. Eastern Kansas is a great place, but the rest of the country doesn't think so. So why should we brag about Overland park, and reaffirm the image, that people have of Kansas City and the midwest and instead of living up the ton of amenities the city has to actually attract people from the coasts, and then let them discover how great JoCo and the other suburbs are themselves. It's not like thats a hard thing to change, and the city has noticed and started to address the problem. Not to say thats the only problem, but other things at least aren't hurting the city's image.

Now it's just getting people to realize what things like the street car and a new airport actually mean and not "I barely use the airport why should a pay for a new one?" I feel people are starting to get it though.

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by kcmo

....People still don’t have a clue about KC, here is a link to one example of hundreds you can find where KC just has not marketed itself well to outsiders and so imagination runs wild and there is very little allure to move to or visit KC.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/220128.page

....

Was the below you trying to poke people?

I thought KC was pretty. Near that upscale outdoor shopping area? Forget the name. There were some lovely older homes nearby...

Friends live in Hotlanta and really like it...their house is pretty...

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

Was the below you trying to poke people?

Why would I say I'm from atlanta and pretend not to know what the plaza is? If I were going to say something, I would respond to all the people that keep mentioning "intelligent design". That is just another "kansas" thing that totally effects the image of the entire Kansas City area.

So I would say... intelligent design "was" an issue on the kansas side and it was never really even an issue there and it certainly is not now and the same issues pop in in many states. I would also mention there are other suburbs besides those in Johnson County, especially if you wanted to be in a district where intelligent design was never an issue and then I would talk up KCMO's assets because as usual, KC is just not the place people imagine.

Finally I would say it's not even close. While KC is very underrated nationally (actually very little respect at all) I personally would choose Denver by quite a bit. However, I would probably choose KC over Atlanta and certainly Dallas, but neither would be terrible either so long as I lived in the more urban parts of the cities.

[MOKAN]

^Why would you? To poke people, like I said. I was just curious, because that post seemed artificial.

[shindig]

Because kcmo has nothing better to do in his sad, pathetic life except to post on KC boards about how much we've screwed up the City. I actually use to find his posts informative, but now they just come across as cynical and demeaning to all the people that call KC home. He tries to come across as somebody that loves KC, but all he does is irritate most regular posters on this forum with his "Kansas City could be Denver now if we had made 10,000 different decisions in the last 30 years".

I like Denver, but definitely think it's overrated, very much like Portland. Denver, like Portland has a great marketing machine going. But, like most marketing campaigns, most of it is half truths. Believe me, Denver is not all it is advertised to be and neither is Portland.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by shindig

Because kcmo has nothing better to do in his sad, pathetic life except to post on KC boards about how much we've screwed up the City. I actually use to find his posts informative, but now they just come across as cynical and demeaning to all the people that call KC home. He tries to come across as somebody that loves KC, but all he does is irritate most regular posters on this forum with his "Kansas City could be Denver now if we had made 10,000 different decisions in the last 30 years".

I like Denver, but definitely think it's overrated, very much like Portland. Denver, like Portland has a great marketing machine going. But, like most marketing campaigns, most of it is half truths. Believe me, Denver is not all it is advertised to be and neither is Portland.

Cities have to market themselves to cater to the most desirable demographics that are more more mobile, particularly professionals. KC is very static in its demographics, meaning nothing ever changes very much over time. Dynamic cities are cities that are in constant demographic flux and change, often at a rapid pace.

[shindig]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Dynamic cities are cities that are in constant demographic flux and change, often at a rapid pace.

[Truly Missouri]

Originally Posted by shindig

Because kcmo has nothing better to do in his sad, pathetic life except to post on KC boards about how much we've screwed up the City. I actually use to find his posts informative, but now they just come across as cynical and demeaning to all the people that call KC home. He tries to come across as somebody that loves KC, but all he does is irritate most regular posters on this forum with his "Kansas City could be Denver now if we had made 10,000 different decisions in the last 30 years".
.

How ironic! Because after reading about 90% of your posts you apparently having nothing better to do in your sad, pathetic life except to just constantly post in HIS threads. Cynically ranting, complaining and whining all to the intent of demeaning him. In which I have to give much credit to KCMO for remaining respectful.