After decades of anticipation, Kansas City Basketball is set to make its long‑awaited return to Municipal Auditorium beginning with the 2026‑27 season, a move that signals a new chapter for the city's athletic identity.
Revitalizing a landmark
The venue, known for its iconic Art Deco architecture, will undergo a careful modernization effort that preserves its historic character while upgrading facilities to meet contemporary standards. This transformation is being carried out through a collaborative partnership between the University of Missouri‑Kansas City and the City of Kansas City.
The Roos previously called Municipal home from 1987 to 2010 and again from 2013 to 2019, and their resurgence promises to rekindle community enthusiasm. Both the men's and women's programs will anchor their home schedules at the auditorium, with the women's team also maintaining select games at the Swinney Center.
A key component of the revival is the Kansas City Streetcar extension, which now provides a direct transit corridor linking the university's Volker campus to the heart of downtown, facilitating easier access for students, alumni, and fans alike.
Mayor Quinton Lucas and Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal have publicly voiced their support, emphasizing how the return of the Roos strengthens the bond between the university and the city while enhancing recruiting prospects and overall program culture.
Dr. Brandon Martin and Mark Turgeon, central figures in the program's leadership, are expected to leverage the renewed venue and improved logistics to elevate competition and foster a vibrant basketball culture across Kansas City.