Kansas basketball: Border War games shouldn’t be played in Kansas City
Kansas basketball and Missouri have reignited the Border War, but the games should only be played in Lawrence and Columbia.
Whether you think bringing back the Border War is a positive or negative thing for Kansas basketball, one thing is certain: the games shouldn’t be played in Kansas City. The series is set to begin next season with the first game at the Sprint Center, the next four games alternating between Lawrence and Columbia, and then the final game once again at the Sprint Center.
There are a number of reasons why the games should be in the college towns and not in KC, one of them being the economic benefits that the college towns lose out on. Lawrence and Columbia businesses rely on the influx of people that football and basketball games bring to help make money, and taking away just one game hurts the local economies.
The effect of the coronavirus has already put those businesses in a bind, so taking away a game next season serves to only make it tougher for small business owners in both towns.
In addition to the economic benefits, the games are just more fun when they’re either in Allen Fieldhouse or Mizzou Arena. The campuses are electric on gameday, and the atmosphere is awesome to be around. On the bright side, Kansas basketball season ticket holders will still be able to attend the games in the Sprint Center.
Logistics for Kansas basketball and Missouri fans
Fans of either team in KC don’t have to drive 3+ hours to see Kansas and Missouri play at their normal arenas, so there isn’t a specific reason that games need to be played in KC. While both fanbases are very prevalent in and around Kansas City, Columbia is less than two hours away, and Lawrence is just a mere 40 minute drive.
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Even though there are only two games out of the six game series in Kansas City, it’d be best if all six were either in Lawrence or Columbia. It’s better for the towns that way, plus students and fans in and around campus can be more excited for the game since they won’t have to essentially travel for a road game.