Baker students can add another hotspot to their list of nearby getaways. With the new Sprint Center<a href="http://www.sprintcenter.com/" target="_blank">the new Sprint Center</a> in downtown Kansas City, Mo., prominent entertainment is now only an hour's drive away. in downtown Kansas City, Mo., prominent entertainment is now only an hour's drive away. the new Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo., prominent entertainment is now only an hour’s drive away.
An open house at the Sprint Center, held on Oct. 10, allowed patrons to see firsthand what to expect from the new establishment. The exterior design of the center, coupled with the circular television screens surrounding the foundation, welcomed visitors to the entrance, while the arena’s interior featured cushioned seats and cup holders. One indoor attraction, The College Basketball Experience, showcases the history of college basketball, including a hall of fame of the top players of the sport.
The Sprint Center's colossal arena can seat over 18,000 individuals, and gargantuan television screens loom above the arena's center to capitalize on the action below. The Sprint Center's strong opening Elton John<a href="http://web.eltonjohn.com/index.jsp" target="_blank">Elton John</a> concert sold out, and future top billings such as concert sold out, and future top billings such as Garth Brooks<a href="http://www.garthbrooks.com/" target="_blank">Garth Brooks</a>, , World Wrestling Entertainment<a href="http://www.wwe.com/" target="_blank">World Wrestling Entertainment</a>, , Van Halen<a href="http://www.van-halen.com/" target="_blank">Van Halen</a>, , Hannah Montana<a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/hannahmontana/" target="_blank">Hannah Montana</a>, plus several sporting events are already slated for the future., plus several sporting events are already slated for the future. Elton John concert sold out, and future top billings such as Garth Brooks, World Wrestling Entertainment, Van Halen, Hannah Montana, plus several sporting events are already slated for the future.
There are also plenty of food joints to choose from once inside, like Truman’s BBQ, Oak Street Pizza, Taco Taco and the Metro Sports Zone. Prices range from $4 for a bottle of water, $5 for soft drinks and anywhere from $7 or more for actual food items. And ATMs are scattered throughout the center. The Sprint Center also boasts six elevators, several escalators, a first aid area and many accommodations for disabled guests.
One visitor, 10-year-old Kayla Couch, said she was impressed with how successful the Sprint Center was at appealing to both young and old audiences. Several Baker students have voiced their opinions on the new arena.
Senior Keith Gaboury believes the addition of the Sprint Center in Kansas City will “bring a lot more business to the area.”
Senior Katherine Bettis said she thinks the Sprint Center will help solve Kemper Arena’s monopoly of ticket sales.
There are a few things to be mindful of before making plans to attend a Sprint Center event, however. Arriving well ahead of time and bringing plenty of spare cash for parking meters and fees can combat parking problems. There are also plenty of restaurants, stores and bars located near the Sprint Center to kill time before an event begins.
For those who may not have the resources to drive to the heart of the city, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority<a href="http://www.kcata.org/" target="_blank">Kansas City Area Transportation Authority</a> is available for late-night runs and increased bus rides. is available for late-night runs and increased bus rides.Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is available for late-night runs and increased bus rides.
