Kansas City hopes to keep giant World Cup Fan Fest heart permanently
Kansas City wants to keep Fan Fest's giant heart.
The question is how to pay for it.
The 65-foot-tall heart that welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to the FIFA Fan Festival is coming down, but Kansas City leaders hope it won't be gone for good.
Crews began dismantling the massive sculpture Monday at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city is working on a plan to keep the landmark in Kansas City in some form.
Lucas said making the installation permanent would cost a couple million dollars, but he believes it's worth preserving.
"I, frankly have moved to the position of staying right where it is is a good spot for it," Lucas said. "I think it sits well with the Liberty Memorial and obviously the downtown skyline behind it. You get a lot of people there. It drives more energy to Valley Park, the World War One museum and memorial, and frankly, not unlike the Shuttlecocks at the Nelson-Atkins. That classic architecture and something a little more modern is good."
Lucas said the sculpture quickly became part of Kansas City's World Cup story.
"I heard the other day people got married under the heart," Lucas said. "If any of you are not married yet, I recommend that. I think it'll be neat. It's memorable."
As for paying for the project, Lucas suggested one possible funding source could be tied to the Royals' proposed downtown ballpark.
Kansas City requires a portion of funding for public projects to be dedicated to public art.
Lucas said the heart could potentially become part of the public art associated with the new stadium.
"We are planning to build a baseball stadium across the street that costs a good deal more than what it would cost to have your heart stay," Lucas said. "That's easy. You'd have your funding. It all gets done pretty quickly."
No final decision has been made on the heart's future.
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