Overview
- Organizers have completed most site construction at the National WWI Museum and Memorial and set programming for the 18-day fan zone that opens June 11.
- Reporting on June 2–3 published full vendor lists and vendor readiness details showing about 20 local barbecue, global-flavor and dessert vendors will serve thousands of fans.
- Argentina Inc. Empanadas told reporters it plans to produce roughly 20,000 empanadas for a single weekend and aims for about 100,000 across the tournament, and other vendors report large-scale stocking like 1,000 pounds of coffee beans.
- Festival teams are emphasizing crowd and heat management and advising attendees that free general-admission passes may not guarantee entry so premium passes or early arrival are recommended.
- Local businesses say the festival offers a major economic and cultural opportunity to showcase Kansas City food and hospitality to international visitors, which could drive repeat tourism and new hires for busiest vendors.