# American Royal > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/American_Royal > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/American_Royal.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Royal > Source revision: 1331304197 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Annual animal show Not to be confused with [Royal American](/source/Royal_American_(disambiguation)). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "American Royal" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) American Royal logo The **American Royal** is a [livestock show](/source/Livestock_show), [horse show](/source/Horse_show), [rodeo](/source/Rodeo), and [barbecue competition](/source/Kansas_City_Barbeque_Society#Competitions) held each year in September – November at various sites in the [Kansas City metropolitan area](/source/Kansas_City_metropolitan_area). The Future Farmers of America (now the [National FFA Organization](/source/National_FFA_Organization)) was founded during the annual Royal. The [Kansas City Royals](/source/Kansas_City_Royals) professional baseball team derived its name from the Royal.[1] ## History Newspaper ad for the 1922 version of the Royal The American Royal began as a cattle show in 1899 in the [Kansas City Stockyards](/source/Kansas_City_Stockyards). The name "American Royal" was inspired by a 1901 editorial in beef industry publication *[Kansas City Drovers Telegram](/source/Drovers_Magazine)* titled "Call it the American Royal". The editorial said the [Royal Agricultural Society of England](/source/Royal_Agricultural_Society_of_England) has a similar event called the [Royal Show](/source/Royal_Show). The first American Royal horse show was added in 1907, and has grown to include five shows ([Quarter Horse Show](/source/American_Quarter_Horse), [Hunter-Jumper Horse Show](/source/United_States_Hunter%2FJumper_Association), [Arabian Horse Show](/source/Arabian_horse), [American Saddlebred](/source/American_Saddlebred), [Youth Horse Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Youth_Horse_Show&action=edit&redlink=1), and a [Cutting Horse show](/source/Cutting_horse)). In 1926, the American Royal invited vocational agriculture students to judge livestock. During the 1928 American Royal, 33 of the students meeting at the Baltimore Hotel in downtown Kansas City formed the [Future Farmers of America](/source/Future_Farmers_of_America). Now, the National FFA Organization has 579,678 members. The group proceeded to hold a convention every year during the Royal in Kansas City until 1998. The original home of the American Royal was destroyed by fire in 1925 during an Automobile Show. The structure was rebuilt in time for the event that year and served as the center for events until the American Royal complex was built across from Kemper Arena in 1992. During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the Royal complex was converted into a glider factory. No event was held in 1917–18 nor 1942–45. In 2011, American Royal officially "obtained the legal rights to the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2011".[2] In 2020, some events were moved online because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). ### New complex 1992 American Royal Complex The new American Royal Complex was constructed in 1992 to replace the outdated facility constructed in 1926. The complex was designed by the engineering design firm [Black and Veatch](/source/Black_and_Veatch) and constructed by Walton Construction.[3] The new complex consists of a museum and visitor center, three exhibition halls, [Hale Arena](/source/Hale_Arena), a theater, a full-service restaurant and concession stand, and the administrative offices. In 1993, the new facilities were flooded but were restored in time for the American Royal livestock shows to continue late that year. Hale Arena has since been replaced by [Hy-Vee Arena](/source/Hy-Vee_Arena) and the [Sprint Center](/source/Sprint_Center) as arenas where the livestock and rodeo shows are held each year. The barbecue competition had been held on the complex grounds, but was moved to the [Arrowhead Stadium](/source/Arrowhead_Stadium) parking lots in 2015 and then to [Kansas Speedway](/source/Kansas_Speedway) in 2016. ### American Royal Museum The [American Hereford Association](/source/American_Hereford_Association) bull and [Hy-Vee Arena](/source/Hy-Vee_Arena) and the Kansas City Livestock Exchange Building in the former [Kansas City Stockyards](/source/Kansas_City_Stockyards) of the [West Bottoms](/source/West_Bottoms), as seen from [Quality Hill](/source/Quality_Hill%2C_Kansas_City) The American Royal Museum is open by appointment and for extended hours during the American Royal season. Exhibits include horses, veterinary medicine, the history of the American Royal, agriculture in Kansas City, and horse, rodeo and livestock show clothing, saddles, and memorabilia.[4] ### Move to Wyandotte County In October 2016, the American Royal Association announced its relocation to [Wyandotte County, Kansas](/source/Wyandotte_County%2C_Kansas).[5] It had secured the land by December 2019.[6] Groundbreaking was expected to start in early 2020. The complex was expected to open in November 2021. ## Events The American Royal is an annual eight-week season of barbecue competition, rodeos, livestock shows, equestrian events and agricultural activities benefiting youth and education. One of Kansas City's premier late-year events with annual economic impact of more than $62 million, the Royal hosts the world's largest barbecue contest, one of the Midwest's largest livestock exhibitions, a rodeo sanctioned by the [Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association](/source/Professional_Rodeo_Cowboys_Association) (PRCA), and is home of the national championship horse competition. In 2009 and 2010, the World Finals event for the [Championship Bull Riding](/source/Championship_Bull_Riding) (CBR) circuit was held in conjunction with the American Royal. The barbecue contest is divided into several categories: brisket, pork ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, sausage, side dishes, and dessert. ## Organization The American Royal is a not-for-profit, community volunteer-based service organization which raises funds for endowments contributions, sponsorships, and event revenues. In 2005, the organization contributed more than $1.3 million in the form of scholarships, educational awards, educational programs, community donations, competitive awards, and prize monies and premiums. ## See also - [Rodeo bareback rigging](/source/Rodeo_bareback_rigging) - [American Royal Zephyr](/source/American_Royal_Zephyr) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-kcs120423_1-0)** Cole, Suzanne P.; Engle, Tim; Winkler, Eric (April 20, 2012). ["50 things every Kansas Citian should know"](http://www.kansascity.com/living/star-magazine/article302401/Fifty-things-every-Kansas-Citian-should-know.html). *[The Kansas City Star](/source/The_Kansas_City_Star)*. Retrieved April 20, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["BBQ HOF History"](https://www.americanroyal.com/bbq/barbecue-hall-of-fame/). *American Royal Association*. Retrieved June 20, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "The New American Royal". *Kansas City Business Journal*. October 23, 1992. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["American Royal Museum and Visitors Center"](https://www.visitmo.com/american-royal-museum-and-visitors-center.aspx). *VisitMO.com*. Visit Missouri. Retrieved 25 August 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [American Royal expects spring 2020 groundbreaking on new Wyandotte County complex](https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/american-royal-expects-spring-2020-groundbreaking-on-new-wyandotte-county-complex) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [American Royal secures land for development in western KCK; project moves forward](http://wyandottedaily.com/american-royal-secures-land-for-development-in-western-kck-project-moves-forward/) ## External links - [Official website](https://americanroyal.com/) - [Kansas City Public Library article](https://web.archive.org/web/20070311020915/http://www.kclibrary.org/guides/localhistory/index.cfm?article=read&articleID=409) v t e Kansas City Royals Established in 1969 Based in Kansas City, Missouri Franchise History Expansion and draft Seasons Current roster Owners and executives Managers Opening Day starting pitchers All-time roster First-round draft picks Records No-hitters Awards and league leaders Royals Academy Broadcasting FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City KSMO-TV Ballparks Municipal Stadium Kauffman Stadium New Royals Stadium (proposed) Spring training Terry Park Baseball City Stadium Surprise Stadium Culture Sluggerrr Denny Matthews Ryan Lefebvre George Toma American Royal "Royals" (song) Lore Pine Tar Incident The Call 2014 AL Wild Card Game "A drive into deep left field by Castellanos" MLB in Omaha Bo Knows Team Hall of Fame Steve Busby Amos Otis Dick Howser Cookie Rojas Paul Splittorff Dennis Leonard Hal McRae Joe Burke Larry Gura Freddie Patek Ewing Kauffman George Brett Frank White Muriel Kauffman John Mayberry Dan Quisenberry Whitey Herzog Willie Wilson Jeff Montgomery Denny Matthews Bret Saberhagen Mark Gubicza Art Stewart Kevin Appier Mike Sweeney Ned Yost Bo Jackson John Schuerholz Cedric Tallis Alex Gordon Retired numbers 5 10 20 42 Minor league affiliates Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals High-A Quad Cities River Bandits Single-A Columbia Fireflies Rookie ACL Royals DSL Royals Fortuna DSL Royals Ventura Key personnel Owner: John Sherman President of baseball operations & general manager: J. J. Picollo Manager: Matt Quatraro World Series championships (2) 1985 2015 American League pennants (4) 1980 1985 2014 2015 Division titles West 1976 1977 1978 1980 1981 (second half) 1984 1985 Central 2015 Wild Card 2014 2024 Seasons (58) 1960s 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020s 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [American Royal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Royal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Royal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.