photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

From left to right, Mayor Mike Dever, Government & Community Affairs Co-Chair with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Paul Davis, City Manager Brandon McGuire, Associate Vice Chancellor for State Relations at KU Kelly Whitten, Lawrence School Board President Kelly Jones and Douglas County Commissioner Karen Willey all spoke at the 2025 legislative priorities breakfast on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Kansas’ economy could see a more than $160 million windfall from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the host communities — possibly including Lawrence — will need the state’s support to ensure the event goes on safely and smoothly.

That’s what Douglas County Commission Chair Karen Willey said at Friday’s Legislative Priorities Breakfast, an event hosted by the Lawrence chamber of commerce in advance of the state legislative session. As the Journal-World reported last year, FIFA has included Lawrence in its Team Base Camp Brochure that lists 24 potential locations for teams to set up camp during the World Cup, which will take place in June and July of next year.

“Looking to the near future, Douglas County and the greater Kansas City region are excited to host the teams and fans of the 2026 World Cup,” Willey said.

Douglas County noted in its legislative priorities statement that the state of Kansas has already pledged $28 million to support World Cup operations, and it said the county “looks forward to the continued collaboration necessary to ensure the success of this global event.”

On Friday, Willey reinforced those sentiments. She said that the state’s economy was expected to see a $167 million boost from the competition, but that a lot of work needed to be done to prepare.

With many fans anticipated to stay in the area, Willey emphasized that successful logistics for transportation and parking would be crucial. She also said that base camp communities would need more resources for public safety.

“With an anticipated base camp in Douglas County, our local governments will need direct support from the state to address increased pressure on public safety, including law enforcement, fire response and emergency medical services,” Willey said.

Six matches, including a quarterfinal, are scheduled in Kansas City, but with three days between matches, visitors will have plenty of time to explore the KC area. Lawrence Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire said that there will be an expected 650,000 visitors in the region as a whole, and more than 73,000 individuals could be needed for part-time and full-time positions.

“This is such an exciting opportunity for our community (to be) on the global stage, to show all that we have to offer,” McGuire said.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many area legislators spoke at the legislative priorities breakfast on Friday, January 10, 2025, including Sen. Marci Francisco, Sen. Rick Kloos, Rep. Mike Amyx, Rep. Barbara Ballard and representative-elects Brooklynne Mosley and Suzanne Wikle.

• • •

The World Cup wasn’t the only topic that local leaders wanted to talk to legislators about at Friday’s breakfast at Maceli’s. The lawmakers in attendance — including Sen. Marci Francisco, Sen. Rick Kloos, Rep. Mike Amyx, Rep. Barbara Ballard, and Reps.-elect Brooklynne Mosley and Suzanne Wikle — heard requests about Medicaid expansion, school funding and more. Here are some of the things that leaders from the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the Lawrence school district, the University of Kansas and the Chamber wanted legislators to work on:

• School Board President Kelly Jones asked for more funding for special education and to support equity programs in the Lawrence district. Jones also said she wanted support to improve class sizes and wages for educators and paraeducators, and for legislators to prioritize the children in Douglas County in general.

Ballard said she agreed that special education funding was vital for any school district.

“I learned a lot about education, and I would have to say (that) special education is one of those areas that we cannot take money out of,” Ballard said.

• Mayor Mike Dever said the City of Lawrence would like more legislation that helps low-income and marginalized populations, including Medicaid expansion and increasing the minimum wage. He said these issues are not just about economics, but also about providing dignity and opportunity for everyone.

Francisco said it was important to keep working toward Medicaid expansion and better mental health and public health services. She also said it’s important to find new ways to support and attract employees to Kansas’ state hospitals.

• Paul Davis, the government and community affairs co-chair at the Chamber, expressed support for efforts to attract film production to Lawrence and said that incentives could play a key role in bringing this industry back to the area.

• KU Associate Vice Chancellor for State Relations Kelly Whitten called for raises for university employees. She said that in the last couple of years, the state of Kansas has funded raises for state employees and brought people up to the market value, but that universities were not included in that pay plan.