KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The work is already underway to transform Union Station to center stage for the NFL Draft.
"You won't be able to see Union Station the way it's been for the next four weeks," said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station Kansas City," Its a long-term process that we know day by day."
Those who use Kansas City’s Union Station will want to be alert to preparations underway for the 2023 NFL Draft next month.
Starting Monday, March 27, the south parking lot in front of Union Station will close for the day.
The parking lot will then close starting Sunday, April 2, through the NFL Draft from April 27-29 and through early May.
— Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) March 27, 2023
Union Station will be the hub of activity for the 2023 NFL Draft, with the draft stage being built in front of the south exterior of the building.
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Additional activities are planned on both sides of the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
During the closures, anyone visiting Union Station must use the parking garage west of Union Station.
Union Station garage parking is free for 30 minutes for those using the Union Station Post Office and PO Boxes.
Inside Union Station, KSHB 41 News spoke with the general manager at Harvey's, who said they will be clearing some tables to make room for the big day in April.
"We need two days to prep, to shut down the restaurant, and then the whole NFL draft is going to come into the building and they are going to start finding their entire set up," said Korey Snider, the assistant general manager at Harvey's.
The Kansas City Streetcar Authority is also preparing, and will keep service rolling if you plan to catch a ride leading up to and during the draft.
"For the days of the draft — Thursday, Friday, Saturday — we will extend our hours until 2 a.m. for all three of those nights," said Donna Mandelbaum, a spokesperson for the KC Streetcar Authority. "And will be increasing service so you are not waiting any longer than 5 to 10 minutes at the most for a streetcar arriving."
Despite all the changes, Guastello says this excitement and experience is real for all of Kansas City.
"This is historic ground and we are going to make history again in Kansas city, and I think it's pretty exciting," Guastello said.
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