The El Torreón Ballroom opened in 1927 to great fanfare. It was the first biracial dance hall in Kansas City hosting jazz greats such as Bennie Molton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Cab Callaway. It was a roller-skating rink for years and opened as the Cowtown Ballroom in 1971. From 1971 to 1974 it was one of the premier rock venues in the country. Legends like Van Morrison, the Doors, Linda Ronstadt and Alice Cooper performed to packed houses. It is now becoming a key part of the revitalization of the East Tower neighborhood.

Whitestone has been engaged since 2020 as the owner representative to conduct the pre-development stage due diligence and provide the owners with the maximum value for their asset. The project includes:

• National Historic Registry

• Historic Tax Credits

• New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs)

• Market and fiscal impact analysis

• Sources of funds and revenues analysis

• Design and Construction estimating

Whitestone has been working with Mammoth Live production company to design the approximately 18,000 square foot of space in the ballroom on the second floor and mezzanine with state-of-the-art amenities for live concerts, meetings, and events with a maximum capacity of 1,500. The first floor will be remodeled for more events/weddings space and a bar/café.

The construction is anticipated to begin in the 1st quarter of 2024 with grand opening in February 2025.

Please see the recent media release about the project as well as exterior and interior renderings in the News section.