The Kansas City Symphony has announced plans to develop a new live music venue in Kansas City’s South Plaza neighborhood. The project represents an expansion of the organization’s performance footprint while maintaining its home at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The proposed venue will be located at 4901 Main Street and is designed to accommodate approximately 4,600 attendees. It is expected to open in 2028. The Symphony will own the facility and partner with Music and Event Management Inc. (MEMI) to manage operations. MEMI currently operates multiple live entertainment venues and promotes hundreds of events annually.

Plans for the venue include hosting more than 100 events each year, with the majority consisting of touring artists across a range of genres. The space will also accommodate a limited number of Symphony performances, particularly those designed for amplified sound or enhanced production formats, including film-with-orchestra programming.

The venue is expected to draw more than 300,000 visitors annually and is intended to support increased access to live performances while complementing the Symphony’s existing schedule at the Kauffman Center.

Design and construction for the project will be led by Kansas City-based firms Populous and McCownGordon. The development is positioned within a walkable area near the Country Club Plaza and is anticipated to contribute to the broader activity of the surrounding district.

While this new venue will expand programming opportunities, the Symphony will continue to present its traditional orchestral performances at the Kauffman Center, which has served as its primary concert hall since opening in 2011.

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