Changing the game for KC

Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission, shares how Kansas City can rebound following the coronavirus pandemic.

IT WAS NEARLY FOURMONTHS AGO WHEN THESIGNS CAME DOWN...AND THE BIG 12TOURNAMENT WASABRUPTLY CANCELED.SINCE THEN, OUR SPORTSTOWN -- HASN'T SEENMUCH SPORTS.41 ACTION NEWS ANCHORDIA WALL TALKED WITHTHE WOMAN BEHIND THECITY'S SPORTSCOMMISSION ABOUT THEIMPACT OF COVID-19...AND HOW SPORTS canMAKE A COMEBACK INKANSAS CITY.KATHY NELSON'S BIGGESTFAN -- HAS A LIFETIME OFPHOTOS TO PROVE IT.Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"She would get around in thatwalker and get into everything.She had a lot of energy."THAT -- HASN'T CHANGED.SHE'S PRESIDENT AND C-E-O OF THE KANSAS CITYSPORTS COMMISSION.THOSE CLOSEST TO HERDESCRIBE HER AS...Denny ScottBoard Chair, KC SportsCommission"Tireless."Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"Oh Dia, let's see."ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO --NELSON CHANGED HERGAME PLAN -- WHEN THESPORTS COMMISSIONENCOURAGED HER TOTAKE OVER.Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"I said I have no idea how torun a company like this."DENNY SCOTT -- THE CHIEFFINANCIAL OFFICER FORBURNS AND MCDONNELL --AND BOARD CHAIR FORTHE SPORTS COMMISSION-- SAYS HIS ROLE IS EASY.Denny ScottBoard Chair, KC SportsCommission"Oh, just being an olderbrother of hers.""We're very lucky.

She is oneof a kind.

She's our sportsunicorn.

There's nobody elselike her."SHE'S SPEARHEADED BIGEVENTS BEFORE...Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"The Royals parade, theChiefs parade, the Big 12, Imean it's huge."BUT -- BACK IN MARCH --THE BIG 12CHAMPIONSHIPS WEREHALTED -- DUE TOCORONAVIRUS.-- NELSON REMEMBERSHER TEAM'S REACTION.Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"All got together, hung out,caught our breath and wentBig 12 was just canceled.That's an incredible impact onour economy and our city.We'll see you in 2 weeks...and now here we are."MONTHS LATER --SPORTING EVENTS ARESTILL ON HOLD.Kathy NelsonCEO, Kansas City SportsCommission"Everyone is like oh my gosh,you must be bored.

You workin sports.

Total opposite."THIS WEEK -- THE SPORTSCOMMISSION TAKES THENEXT STEP IN ITS PUSH TOHOST MATCHES FOR THE20-26 WORLD CUP.Kathy NelsonCEO, Kansas City SportsCommission"On Tuesday, there is aworkshop for all 17 cities thatare still finalists for thatbid.We will have that workshopand then after that, the 17cities will have a 1-on-1meeting with FIFASrepresentatives and U.S.Soccer."Denny ScottBoard Chair, KC SportsCommission"If we get a World Cup soccergame, which she is heavilyinvolved in, it's a Super Bowl."Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"One thing about Kathy is thatshe will just work hard."COVID-19 CAN'T CHANGETHAT.Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"The Kansas City SportsCommission is a small team.They're small, but mighty.

Imean, they get it done."Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"Our organization really workson bids years out.

Thecalmness, if you will, rightnow, kind of allows us to gookay what else should we beconsidering and looking at?"SINCE SHE WAS A KID --NELSON HAS HAD HERHANDS IN A LOT.SHE'S A WIFE OF 25 YEARS-- TO HER HUSBANDLANCE.AND MOM TO THEIRDAUGHTERS HALEY ANDHANNAH.Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"I hope that when other girlssee me they see that Inormal.

I'm approachable andyou can do anything."Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"That little girl has grown intoa beautiful woman."A FORCE IN SPITE OF ANUNCERTAIN FUTURE --STILL PUSHING TO GIVETHIS CITY SOMETHING TOBE PROUD OF.Kathy NelsonPresident & CEO, KC SportsCommission"We're the largest sportscommission in the countrynow, the oldest sportscommission in the country andprobably one of the mostpowerful too."Denny ScottBoard Chair, KC SportsCommission"When you talk to people fromother sports commissions inother cities they say, we're notstructured like you guys.

Wedon't do what the Kansas CitySports Commission does andit's because of Kathy Nelson."WHO'S GOT A MESSAGEFOR ALL THE SPORTS FANSOUT THERE.Kathy NelsonCEO, Kansas City SportsCommission"I can tell you there arehundreds of people in KansasCity working on making surethat when we are able to playsports again, which in myheart know will be soon.

Thatyou will be safe and you willbe comfortable and you willfeel welcome at the arena, atthe stadium, at the pitch."Shirley MuellerKathy's Mom"She's amazing.

I don't knowhow she does it all but shegets it done and she does itwith grace and humility.

And Ithink that's why people loveher."IN KANSAS CITY -- DIA WALL-- 41 ACTION NEW