Chamber members learned more about how the town could be impacted by the 2026 World Cup during a meeting Tuesday.
Krys O’Brien and Joshua Falleaf of the Lawrence Chamber presented information on how Eudora could capitalize on the massive sporting event partially hosted in Kansas City.
Falleaf described the World Cup as the biggest sporting event in the world and said each of the six matches hosted in Kansas City would have the impact of a Super Bowl. The 2026 World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 and will feature 48 international teams playing matches in 16 cities across North America.
He said they were planning for around 650,000 visitors in the Kansas City area, which will spill out to places as far as Omaha and Wichita. Eudora is right in the center of it all, he said.
Another possible impact for Eudora is if the University of Kansas is chosen as a team’s base camp. Rock Chalk Park is a finalist to host an international team for the tournament. If it is chosen, that could increase the influx of visitors dramatically, depending on the size of the team hosted in Lawrence.
Dec. 5 is draw day, and Falleaf said they anticipate base camp selections will heat up after that point.
That impact of the visitors presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The additional people will be a burden on housing, transportation and public safety needs. Falleaf said when it comes to housing, “any place with a room is going to be occupied.”
City Manager Zack Daniel asked about how they would transport people across the region. Falleaf said there are discussions about possible shuttles, but there will also be demand for rideshare apps like Uber.
Plus, many of the visitors don’t speak English and don’t have a credit or debit card, which could increase the need for language translators and currency exchanges.
Eudora will also have a chance to capitalize on what experts have said is a possible windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in the region.
O’Brien said Eudora is situated strategically between Rock Chalk Park and the Kansas City airport, which could help bring visitors into town. Plus, it offers a chance for visitors to get away from the massive crowds in Kansas City and experience a smaller town without having to travel far.
The Lawrence Chamber plans to host a webinar Nov. 17 for business owners, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to learn more to prepare for the World Cup.
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
