targeting the notables and quotables of kansas city
"I basically run an entire community. We're the 4th largest city in Kansas on race weekends," says Jeff Boerger, Vice President and General Manager for the Kansas International Speedway. With over 100,000 people crowding into a stadium and adjoining facilities three times a year, he's not exaggerating.
Boerger was working for the Kansas City Area Development Council in 1997 when he met the president of the International Speedway Corporation out of Daytona and talked pheasant hunting (and more) with him. After the Kansas City metropolitan area won the speedway, this Kansas native signed on to serve as the chief operations guy despite a lack of motor sports background. What he did have was good networking ability, sound business sense, and an understanding of the area and its politics.
He says the hardest part of the job is keeping everything organized. What makes this possible is that he has a "great staff" to support him. Looking back over the last three years, Boerger believes that the really difficult part came at the first when they were buying the acreage, on which was located 143 homes. He notes that some people made real sacrifices for the city and he hopes they'll reap some of the benefits as well. He's quick to point out the new 1.3 million square feet of retail going in and that the sold-out events are terrific revenue creators - and it's new revenue since 70%
of the fans are coming from out of state.
Finding spectators is not the challenge for Boerger. Instead, he's looking towards eventual expansion of the speedway (up to 150,000 fans), some gravelling of low-lying parking areas, and leasing the facility for other uses.
"I hope this is my last job," he emphatically states. "I also couldn't be more proud of what the state of Kansas and this community have done. They've created an absolute showpiece, one which improves awareness of the state and helps improve the quality of life here as well."