KC wants World Cup dollars spread further; Here’s why Airbnb is investing in a metrowide economic base camp

Kansas City is bracing for a global moment this summer, leaving local leaders concerned that benefits from the coming World Cup need an intentional push to reach beyond stadiums and downtown corridors.

A newly announced strategy aims to boost spending throughout neighborhoods and small businesses across the metro — spreading out FIFA World Cup gains like the roughly $105 million in economic activity in June and July tied to short-term rentals alone.

At the center of that effort is a collaboration between Airbnb and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, anchored by a $100,000 investment into the city’s Open Doors! initiative. The funding is part of Airbnb’s broader $5 million Host City Impact Program tied to the World Cup.

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“When we heard that Kansas City had the most base camps of any World Cup city, we knew that you were going to get more unique visitors than any other city,” said Vincent Frillici, policy lead at Airbnb.

Kansas City is set to host base camps for Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria, drawing international visitors over several weeks rather than a single weekend spike. That extended timeline is shaping how the city prepares.

“This is an event we’ve never seen before. It’s massive. It’s nothing like the NFL Draft or the Big 12 because of how long the event is,” said Nia Webster, assistant director of the neighborhood services department for the city of Kansas City, Missouri.

That scale is pushing leaders to rethink how economic impact is distributed. Instead of allowing spending to cluster in predictable areas, the goal is to create pathways that connect visitors directly to neighborhoods and local businesses.

“When we looked at what’s happening in Kansas City and what happened in past major events, one of the things that we had heard was that local small businesses might not have had the best chance to participate economically from the big events,” said Frillici.

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Redirecting demand into neighborhoods

Airbnb estimates about 11,000 guests will stay in short-term rentals across Kansas City during the tournament window, helping generate roughly $105 million in total economic output, including about $6 million in host earnings and $56 million in GDP impact.

Unlike traditional tourism models, those visitors will be spread across neighborhoods, creating new opportunities for businesses that typically operate outside the city’s core.

“One of the things that most people don’t know about Airbnb is that if you share your home on Airbnb, you get to keep about 80% of what your guest pays you,” said Frillici.

To help visitors navigate those neighborhoods, Airbnb is working with Open Doors! to create a bilingual digital guide that highlights local businesses. The guide will be shared directly with guests during their stay.

“These guests, whether they’re coming from Nebraska or from Argentina, will get a chance to learn about some small businesses in different neighborhoods around the city that they might not go to if they were just staying within just where everyone goes in Kansas City,” said Frillici.

Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC); photo by Brian Escobar, EDCKC

Storefronts activate ahead of the World Cup

On the ground, Open Doors! is working to ensure businesses are visible and ready.

The program is activating 17 storefront spaces across Kansas City, representing at least 21 businesses, artists, and organizations. Many of these locations sit along high-traffic corridors, including areas connected to the KC Streetcar, positioning entrepreneurs to meet visitors where they are.

“It creates a much greater opportunity than any other tourist event that we’ve seen,” said Webster.

City leaders see the World Cup as more than a temporary spike. It is being treated as a catalyst to accelerate small business growth and strengthen Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

That approach builds on years of work to make entrepreneurship more accessible, from licensing support to technical assistance and partnerships across the region.

“Things like the World Cup will give people a head start if they start their own established geographic location,” said Tracey Lewis, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.

Lewis pointed to the concentration of visitors as a rare moment for businesses to build momentum quickly, particularly for those moving into physical storefronts for the first time.

Béty Lê Shackelford, Hella Good Deeds; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Entrepreneurs build with the spotlight approaching

For entrepreneurs like Béty Lê Shackelford, Open Doors! is already expanding what feels possible.

Her organization, Hella Good Deeds, is developing a community-centered retail and cultural space in Columbus Park, focused on supporting Asian-owned businesses while introducing visitors to a broader view of Kansas City.

“I mean, the opportunity is incredible to be able to have so much of our rent subsidized through the program; that extra financial support is amazing,” said Shackelford.

The space is already drawing interest from vendors and community members before opening, giving participants time to prepare for the World Cup window.

That preparation carries weight as the city anticipates a global audience.

“I want to be able to have all of them leave and be like, ‘wow, Kansas City is amazing,’” she said.

Her focus stays on long-term outcomes for local entrepreneurs.

“When they feel like they’ve been able to be successful and take full advantage of a huge event like this, and they have grown because of it, that’s what fills my heart up,” said Shackelford.

A defining opportunity for Kansas City

The World Cup will introduce Kansas City to visitors who may have never experienced the city before. For many, their first impression will come from neighborhoods, small businesses, and local interactions rather than major venues, said Frillici.

That dynamic is shaping how partners measure success.

“The idea that you’re going to have on any given weekend, potentially a person from Argentina or Algeria, England and Amsterdam, all sitting at a restaurant is such a unique thing,” said Frillici.