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23 Hour Operating Hours allowed
at Liquor by the Drink Establishments 
in Raytown during World Cup?!?

IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?

For the 2026 World Cup (June 11-July 19, 2026), Missouri law allows bars to serve alcohol from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. (23 hours), but Raytown, like other cities, can opt out or modify the operating hours. So check local Raytown ordinances, though generally, they've discussed allowing extensions or similar to Kansas City.

At the last meeting of the Raytown Board of Alderman, Ward 1 Alderman Greg Walters brought forth the item for discussion. He noted that the City of Independence has already "opted out" of the extended hours for by the drink laws and was also aware that Lee's Summit City Council has discussed limiting operating hours in their town.

Mayor Michael McDonough responded saying that there will be a presentation at the next meeting covering this item.

Walters replied he did not think 23 hour daily oprating hours in Raytown for bars is a good idea.

Walters said, "Raytown just went through a very rough couple of years of lawlessnes, gunfire and shootings at a bar in Gregory Heights as well as similar problems near 87th Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard."

He continued "I know of at least three deaths that resulted during that time from gunfire . . . keeping bars open 23 hours a day will not decrease the problem . . . it will increase the problem."

Mayor McDonough said the item would be on the next agenda scheduled for January 20, 2026. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and held at Raytown City Hall located at 10000 East 59th Street.

This meeting is a Public Meeting and the Public will be allowed to speak.

BY GREG WALTERS

The Long Goodbye . . .

A “Farewell” to the Kansas City Chiefs
and a word about where the Royals should call home.

For a “cow town” located in the middle of the United States, Kansas City does pretty well in the arena of professional sports.

Be that as it may, this story is about Chiefs and Royals and their future in the Kansas City area.

Both the Chiefs and Royals have had their ups and downs as a Professional Sports Franchises. But it is difficult to think of them without remembering their glory days of Championship runs, fueled by innovative coaching, that carried them to the the top of the game.

Who can forget the Royals as they literally clawed their way to their epic Chamionships in 1985 and 2015?

The Chiefs, not to be outdone, brought home Super Bowl Chamionships in 1970, 2020, 2023 and 2024.

Their home stadiums located at the Truman Sports Complex are one of the most recognizable sports venues in American professional sports. Easily accessed either Interstate 70 or Interstate 435, it is one of the most convenient major league sports complex in football and baseball.

The Royals homefield is named after their founder (Ewing Kauffman). Mr. Kauffman recognized that Kansas City had always been a baseball town. He brought Professional Baseball back to Kansas City when he founded the Kansas City Royals in 1969.

The Chiefs have already decided to move to Wyandotte County, in Kansas. The Royals have yet to make a decision on their future location. I am hopeful the team will continue to call Kaufmann Stadium their home. It is a tribute to Ewing Kauffmann and his successful bid to keep professional baseball in Kansas City after the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland, California.

Another amenity for those who live near the stadiums is the Rock Island Bicycle and Walking Trail. The Rock Island Trail is a premier bicycle and walking trail and was built by Jackson County Missouri specifically for that destination. The trail terminates at the entrance to the Chiefs and Royals parking lots.

Raytown has always been my home. I live one mile from the Stadium Complex. It is always refreshing to be able to drive by the home of championship baseball and football teams.

If both of those teams leave the Sports Complex it will be a loss the entire metropolitan area  will find hard to replace. 

The Royals options of relocating their team appear to be dwindling. Two of the venues they have been looking at, one in Clay County and one in Kansas are no longer being offered. The option of a location near Crown Center is deeply flawed with limited parking and the prospect of a much smaller stadium.

If you like tail-gating before your basebal game, it most likely will not happen at Crown Center. There simply is not enough room.

It is my hope the Royals will remain at their current location and continue the tradition of world class baseball in their world class home at Kauffman Stadium.

The Boston Red Sox have been playing at Fenway Park in Boston since 1912. The Chicago Cubs have been at Wrigley Field since 1914.

Kauffman Stadium may be close to close to 53 years old, but it remains one of Major League baseball's most enchanting ballparks. It is not worn out. It is just coming into its prime. I hope the owners of the Royals realize the opportunity they have in growing their home at Kauffman Stadium for another 50 years.

With the Chief's leaving, the Royals have an opportunity to use and expand their operation to include a destination hotel with tourist attractions conveniently next door to Kauffman Stadium.

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