Suzanne Hogan is a podcast producer, storyteller and educator based in Kansas City, Missouri. She is also the Managing Producer for KCUR Studios, the podcast wing of KCUR 89.3 FM, Kansas City’s NPR affiliate.
Throughout her career at KCUR, her creative documentary style has helped expose corruption in the Kansas City, Kansas police department, demystified the Midwest accent and taken her inside the den of a wild bear.
In 2020, she launched “A People’s History of Kansas City,” an award winning podcast that shines a spotlight on overlooked everyday heroes and visionaries that shaped the region.
Three words that describe KC
Surprising, nuanced, under construction
If you could only name three people to KCs sport hall of fame, who’d they be?
Buck O Neil, the first African American Major League Baseball coach who helped establish the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City; Salvador Perez, our iconic and charismatic Royals catcher who has been on the team his entire career and is now our team captain; and Patrick Mahomes, who needs no elaboration.
Three brands associated with KC
Boulevard Brewery: This Kansas City beer company is a go-to pick when watching any sports event. I love the Wheat and Pale Ale, and their brewery tours are really fun.
Topsys Popcorn, one of the oldest popcorn businesses in the city, (which says a lot for a place with some exciting popcorn claims to fame.) For me the smell of Topsys in the air brings back a lot of sweet nostalgic moments at baseball games, and holidays spent with family and friends.
KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR affiliate bringing you all the local news, culture and information you need without a paywall. Shameless self plug for my employer, I know, but I do personally love public media and deeply appreciate this local brand!
The one place in town that captures why KC is a World Cup city
Hands down the new Kansas City Current stadium.. It’s the first stadium built specifically for a professional women’s team in the world. It’s a beautiful facility right along the river, and the fan support around this team is unwavering. .
KC’s biggest rival
NFLwise, it’s be the Las Vegas Raiders. Or if it’s about some old I-70 series baseball beef, we could say the St. Louis Cardinals. Beyond sport, KC will take on any other city that claims to have the best barbecue.
One thing World Cup fans from overseas will be surprised to learn about KC
What I hear most often from out of town visitors is how surprised they are by our landscape. We are a river city of hills and bluffs with lots of green space. Yes, there is ongoing urban development, old buildings and a beautiful skyline. But within that there are also big beautiful trees, and by the time summer hits it can feel like a city within a park.
Historical figure who’d be most proud or excited KC is hosting a World Cup
Easily my Costa Rican grandpa, Jose Joaquin Portuguez. He may not have been a bigtime famous player, but it was his dream for more people in the United States and Kansas City to know about soccer back when the game wasn’t that popular..
He was one of the many immigrant groups that popularized the sport in Kansas City and advocated for soccer fields in parks.
He died in 2021 at 97 years old. It was his dream to go to a World Cup game. He would have been freaking out if he could have known Kansas City would be a host city for the 2026 games.
Which team other than U.S. would feel at home if assigned to KC as its World Cup base?
Probably Mexico. Kansas City has attracted large communities of Mexicans since the early 1900s with the railroad and meat packing industries. KC is home to a vibrant community of Mexican fans, particularly in Kansas City, Kansas and on Kansas City’s westside. Some of those neighborhoods are my absolute favorite places to catch a game on TV because the fan experience (and the food!) Is incredible.
The one place in KC every visitor – including World Cup players! – should check out
Definitely Union Station. The historic train depot has been beautifully renovated and sits right across the street from The World War I Museum and Memorial (or ‘The Liberty Memorial’ as locals call it.) You get a big beautiful lawn with a fantastic view of the city, not to mention its phenomenal history museum.