Cold weather delays Big 12 fan fest but not downtown basketball

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Big 12 Basketball Tournament began with four games on Wednesday, but some of the planned outdoor activities had to be postponed due to the area’s cold snap.

The Miller Light fan fest was scheduled to begin Wednesday. The fan fest was located on Grand Boulevard in front of the T-Mobile Center, but the “fan experience” mini-game opportunities have been postponed until Thursday.

Derek Byrne the content director of Visit KC, and said the high winds definitely played a factor with the decision.

“It’s a tough start, but we’re certainly happy that that’ll be back,” Byrne said. “It’s part of our culture to have March basketball here, to have more games happening in the month of March than just about any other city in America.”

READ MORE: KC Sports Commission working to keep Big 12 basketball tournaments in KC beyond 2031

Businesses like Blue Sushi Saki Grill expect to have more customers, because of Big 12 basketball fans traveling to watch their teams play in downtown Kansas City.

“People love to come out,” Bartender Briana Johnson said. “I’m hoping with the rest of the week warming up, people are going to come down, and come hang out with us – get some good sushi.”

The Love family – Demarcus and Tierra, and their two sons, Cam and Caedon were quickly walking to get out of the cold, and into the T-Mobile Center.

They are rooting for Houston, as their daughter Elyia Love is a senior playing her first college basketball tournament in Kansas City after graduating from Olathe North.

“It’s a beautiful moment. It’s a dream come true. We’ve been going through this since she was in first grade,” Tierra Love said. “To see her live out her dreams is just a blessing. All thanks to the Lord and her dad who taught her how to play basketball.”

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