KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Crews will begin building the NFL Draft stage in front of Union Station next week, and it will impact traffic around the landmark.
Starting Sunday, westbound Pershing Road will be closed between Broadway Street and Main Street. Drivers will be able to access Union Station and Union Station’s West Yard Garage through Broadway Boulevard and Pershing Road.
“So, construction is going to begin for the buildout of the 2023 NFL Draft,” KC Sports Commission marketing director Elliott Scott told FOX4 Friday.
It’s important to note that Broadway Street is not the same thing as the much heavier traveled and well known Broadway Boulevard.
“Broadway Boulevard remains open north and south, so I would say that’s a great thoroughfare if you’re going north or south,” Scott said.
Drivers will be able to access Union Station and Union Station’s West Yard Garage through Broadway Boulevard and Pershing Road. Drivers will then turn left onto Broadway Street to get into the garage. Broadway Street is also known as “Honorary Archives Way.”
“We will have signage directing people, and we know people are understanding and appreciating we’re moving fast,” Union Station President and CEO George Guastello said in an interview with FOX4 Friday.
Additional closures in the area will happen the closer it gets to the NFL Draft when crews begin building the NFL Draft Experience.
Starting April 10, another round of road closures will go into effect. They include:
- Main Street between 20th Street and Grand Boulevard
- Pershing Road between Broadway Street and Grand Boulevard
- Kessler Road between Pershing Road and Wyandotte Street
- Memorial Drive
- Memorial Drive OK Street
“That’s because then that buildout expands to the north and south lawns of the National World War I Museum and Memorial,” Scott continued.
Also starting April 10, Broadway Boulevard to eastbound Pershing Road will be one-way. Southbound Kessler Road to Wyandotte Street and Northbound Main Street to Eastbound Pershing Road will also be one-way.
On April 17, the NFL will takeover sections inside Union Station.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be accessible using Kessler Road and Memorial Drive to reach parking lots during the road closures.
Attractions, restaurants, retail and tenant offices will remain open during the building process. That’s a change to previous reports that entities inside may have to close up to 10 days before the draft begins.
