KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It feels like March was several years ago.
It was mid-March when one of Kansas City's marquee annual events, the Big 12 Tournament, was set to tip-off.
Staff at the Kansas City Sports Commission help to plan out the annual event, and were looking forward to another successful year.
The coronavirus pandemic had different plans.
Kansas City Sports Commission President and CEO Kathy Nelson remembers the time vividly.
"We all got together, hung out, caught our breath and went, 'Big 12 was just canceled,'" Nelson recalled. "That's an incredible impact on our economy and our city. We'll see you in two weeks... and now here we are."
Nelson, after a long career in sports broadcasting, took over the Sports Commission in spite of her concerns about a lack of experience. Denny Scott, with Burns & McDonnell, became her mentor and is now a close friend.
"We're very lucky. She is one of a kind. She's our sports unicorn. There's nobody else like her," Scott said.
Bringing big events to Kansas City is nothing new for Nelson.
"The Royals parade, the Chiefs parade, the Big 12, I mean it's huge," Nelson's mom Shirley Mueller said.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the sports calendar, Nelson and her staff are forging ahead.
On Tuesday, the Sports Commission formally continues its years-long effort to become one of a select handful of United States cities to be named a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"There is a workshop for all 17 cities that are still finalists for that bid. We will have that workshop and then after that, the 17 cities will have a one-on-one meeting with FIFA representatives and U.S. Soccer," Nelson said.
There is some benefit to the slow down COVID-19 forced on the sports commission. Nelson said,
"Our organization really works on bids years out," Nelson said. "The calmness, if you will, right now, kind of allows us to go, 'OK, what else should we be considering and looking at?'"
Nelson just celebrated 25 years of marriage to her husband Lance. She's also mom to their two daughters Haley and Hannah.
"I hope that when other girls see me, they see that I'm normal," Nelson said. " I'm approachable and you can do anything. We're the largest sports commission in the country now, the oldest sports commission in the country and probably one of the most powerful too."
Nelson's mentor, Denny Scott, wants people throughout Kansas City to know just how fortunate this city is to have Nelson on its side.
"When you talk to people from other sports commissions in other cities they say, 'We're not structured like you guys. We don't do what the Kansas City Sports Commission does and it's because of Kathy Nelson,'" Scott said.
While 2026 is still several years in the future, Nelson says other Kansas Citians are working just as hard to bring sports back in 2020.
"I can tell you there are hundreds of people in Kansas City working on making sure that when we are able to play sports again, which in my heart know will be soon.," Nelson said. "That you will be safe and you will be comfortable and you will feel welcome at the arena, at the stadium or at the pitch."
