Despite Don Denkinger's blown call during the 1985 World Series, St. Louis has long been confident it remains superior to the City of Fountains in myriad ways: baseball, beer, architecture... But a string of recent developments makes us wonder whether Kansas City is catching up.
- Downtown Development: The bustling Power & Light District was featured on live TV during the World Cup. As for Ballpark Village? You might’ve caught a glimpse of its softball field and parking lot during last year’s MLB All-Star Game.
- Good Sports: K.C.’s $276 million Sprint Center hosts LeBron James and the Miami Heat this month. As for that Players for Peace Goodwill Game, slated for August 7 at the Edward Jones Dome? It fizzled out without any official announcement. (Though the dome did recently host the last scheduled Arch Rivalry Game.)
- Additional Art: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s translucent Bloch Building, completed in 2007, is as much a work of art as its contents. The Saint Louis Art Museum broke ground on its own addition this January.
- Fresh Options: Nearly a quarter-century younger than the Soulard Farmer’s Market, K.C.’s City Market—whose farmer’s market is surrounded by bustling restaurants and shops—hosts 140-plus vendors each weekend, along with concerts (e.g., John Mayer, The Killers) and events (e.g., screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show).
- Minding the Bottom Line: After years spent attempting to eliminate the city earnings tax, Rex Sinquefield and political action committee Let Voters Decide helped get the item on next month’s ballot. Facing a significant deficit already, surely the city of St. Louis would fight Proposition A with prompt legal action. Instead, it was K.C. attorney Galen Beaufort who filed a lawsuit in August to block the statewide vote.
