Congratulations to Julie B. and her family of Leawood! They are the winners of the Tour of Gymnastics Superstars ticket giveaway!

Other than Michael Phelps, the biggest drama and excitement out of the Beijing Olympics back in August was gymnastics. If you and your family were anything like ours, we were glued to the TV on nights when gymnastics was featured. The 2008 Olympics made superstars of young American gymnasts Nastia Lukin and Shawn Johnson.

Lukin, Johnson and a whole crew of other fantastic American gymnasts will be at Sprint Center in Kansas City on November 16th with the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Several members of the men’s Olympic gymnastics team will perform as well as former Olympians Shannon Miller, Paul Hamm and Morgan Hamm.

The show starts at 6:00pm on Sunday, November 16th. Tickets are still available - check out Sprint Center’s website for details. (more…)

Hey Moms! (Oh, Dads and grandparents - we know you’re here too! Hi!) Looking for something fun to do with the girlfriends this weekend? We’ve got two ideas and one of them is a GREAT DEAL!

Janet Jackson and LL Cool J will be heating up the Sprint Center on Friday night (October 24). If you want 2-for-1 lower level tickets, just click over to our SPECIAL OFFERS page for the promo code and directions. Two Seats for $77 - but act fast because the promo code is only good until Wednesday, October 22nd at 10pm. UPDATE: The concert is over…and the special offer, therefore, is closed!

Friday night is also the Holiday Mart Ladies’ Night Out! Food, friends, cocktails and SHOPPING! Sponsored by the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, the Holiday Mart features over 200 unique vendors and runs from Thursday, October 23 thru Sunday, October 26 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Start planning your night out now, girls!

On Friday night, Kate and I had the opportunity to join more than 12,000 other basketball fans as the Sprint Center hosted the Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA exhibition game. Between the two of us, we took 2 husbands and 4 children…and everyone had a great time. As you might expect from 5, 6 and 7-year-olds, the real thrill came not from the game itself, but from the unicycle-riding, porcelain-bowl-balancing beauty who entertained us at halftime! The courtside musical chairs game and the Crimson Girls from KU were hits, as well.

It was fitting that we were able to take our families to an event which marked Sprint Center’s one-year anniversary in Kansas City. Even though an anchor tenant has yet to be signed, I think the arena has been a huge success and has brought some fantastic family-friendly programming and events to our city. There’s lots yet to come…including two huge December events: The Cheetah Girls, and the world famous Radio City Rockettes performing their Christmas Spectacular! You’ll want to take advantage of the special discounts given to our readers by utilizing our GROUP RATE CODE when purchasing your tickets to the Rockettes’ Show!

And coming November 16, fresh from their stunning performances at the Beijing Summer Olympics, are Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and company, as part of The 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Billed as an extraordinary sports and music extravaganza, this is sure to be a fun-filled, unique night for the entire family! The “music” part comes courtesy of live performances by teen sensations Jordan Pruitt and KSM. Also featured will be songs from Walt Disney Records’ Disney Girlz Rock 2 CD.

It’s not too early to start thinking about how you are going to spend those cold late fall and early winter nights…why not load the family up in the car and head down to the Sprint Center for a fun night?!? There’s lots of fun to be had, and KC Kids Fun will make sure you don’t miss a beat!

The NBA is coming to Sprint Center on Friday, October 10th - and guess who is going to be there?

Courtesy of KC Kids Fun, the following three lucky readers won our random drawing for family four-packs of tickets to the game:

• Amy R. of Overland Park, KS

• Tomiko W. of Kansas City, MO

• Bett F. of Lathrop, MO

Congratulations ladies! We hope you have a great time at the game with your families!

For those of you who weren’t so lucky, you still have time to score DISCOUNTED TICKETS to the game - now thru Friday, October 3rd, KC Kids Fun readers can take advantage of a special offer - just click HERE and enter “kckids” when prompted for a special code!

*********THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL THIS WEEKEND. TICKET DISCOUNTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE THRU OCTOBER 3 BY CLICKING HERE AND ENTERING “kckids” WHEN PROMPTED FOR A SPECIAL CODE.***********

The NBA makes its Sprint Center debut on Friday night, October 10th. The Portland Trailblazers will take on the Atlanta Hawks. It’s a Friday night, folks! Not a school night! And it’s pro basketball in Kansas City!

And did I mention we’ve got tickets to give away?

KC Kids Fun has three (3) family four-packs of tickets that we would LOVE to give to you guys!

Enter today thru Friday night! TELL YOUR FRIENDS! You could win FOUR FREE TICKETS to the Hawks-Trailblazers game - a value of $120!

So, here’s what you need to do to enter the random drawing - (1) submit a comment by clicking the Comments link at the end of this article; (2) the form will require a valid email address which will NOT be made public with your comment; (3) just tell us your favorite fall activity in the Kansas City metro and you’re entered!

**Or if you’d just like ticket discounts - Click on this link to discounted NBA tickets at Sprint Center and enter “kckids” when prompted for a Special Offer code. This discount offer is good through October 3rd at 7:00 pm or until supplies last.

RULES: Comments/entries must be submitted before 11:59pm CDT on Friday, September 26, 2008. Three winning entries will be drawn at random and the winners will be notified by KC Kids Fun via email.

Must be 21 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

WE HAVE THREE WINNERS!

Congratulations to:

• Steve H. of Tonganoxie

• Marnie E. of Lee’s Summit

• Angie C. of Overland Park

They each won a family pack of four tickets to see the St. Louis Blues take on the Los Angeles Kings in Sprint Center’s first NHL hockey game on Monday, September 22nd!

Tickets are still available via the Sprint Center and Ticketmaster. Check out Sprint Center’s website for details!

Thanks to everyone who entered our drawing for the hockey tickets. We have a lot of fun with our giveaways and can’t wait for the next one. (It just might possibly be for tickets to the NBA game at Sprint Center on Friday, October 10th - wouldn’t that be a blast to take the kids to?! Take a look at the special discount we’re offering if you just can’t wait for the giveaway!!)

***COMMENTS/ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS GIVEAWAY. THREE ENTRIES WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM AND NOTIFIED VIA THE EMAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED. WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS SITE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!***

KC Kids Fun is EXCITED about hockey! The NHL is coming to Sprint Center on September 22nd - and we’ve got TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY!

The St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings will face off in Sprint Center’s first hockey game. Your family will love the fast-paced action and a fun night out.

So…we want to share THREE Family 4-packs of tickets with our KC Kids Fun readers. Enter today thru Friday night! TELL YOUR FRIENDS! You could win FOUR FREE TICKETS to the Blues-Kings game - a value of $100!

So, here’s what you need to do to enter the random drawing - (1) submit a comment by clicking the Comments link at the end of this article; (2) the form will require a valid email address which will NOT be made public with your comment; (3) just tell us the best activity you shared with your kids this summer around the Kansas City metro and you’re entered!

**Or if you’d just like ticket discounts - Click on this link to discounted NHL tickets at Sprint Center and enter “kckidsfun” when prompted for a Special Offer code. This discount offer is good through September 12th at 7:00 pm or until supplies last.

RULES: Comments/entries must be submitted before 11:59pm CDT on Friday, September 12, 2008. Three winning entries will be drawn at random and the winners will be notified by KC Kids Fun via email.

Must be 21 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

KC Kids Fun is pleased to announce our newest advertising partner, AEG/Sprint Center. Sprint Center will host many upcoming family-friendly events, and KC Kids Fun will tell you everything you need to know about them!

You’ll want to check in frequently as we will be offering exclusive TICKET GIVEAWAYS, EVENT DISCOUNTS and SPECIAL OFFERS…available only to KC Kids Fun readers! Don’t want to miss out? Subscribe to our RSS feed or sign up for our email subscription list. Check out the orange boxes in the left sidebar for subscription options. With either one, you’ll be the first to know about these fantastic, family-friendly Sprint Center offers!

You won’t want to miss the fast paced action as Sprint Center hosts its first-ever NHL event: the Los Angeles Kings vs. the St. Louis Blues in a pre-season showdown on September 22 at 7:00pm. KC Kids Fun is pleased to offer a special discount on event tickets–enjoy a $5-$15 savings PER TICKET!

To purchase discounted NHL tickets - just for KC Kids Fun readers, just click here and enter “kckids” when prompted for a special offer code. Offer expires Friday, Sept. 12th at 7:00pm or while supplies last.

Looking for something special to do with the kids over the kids over the next few months?  Here’s a list of special events and concerts that have tickets on sale now!

The Coterie Theatre at Crown Center (Kansas City, MO) presents Sideways Stories from Wayside School, based on the book series by Louis Sachar, from April 8 through May 18.

Kansas City Brigade  at the Sprint Center - multiple dates, now through June - check out Arena Football and check out the Sprint Center and check out everything new and exciting downtown!  Wow!

Walking with Dinosaurs (Sprint Center) - this “arena spectacle” is based upon the awesome BBC Television series.  It will be in town June 3 through 7.  Don’t miss it!  Tickets are on sale now.

I know it’s early but the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be in Kansas City from September 10 through 14.  It will be a Bello-bration at Sprint Center.

Kansas City Wizards soccer at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, KS - multiple dates, now through October - check out the Wizards in their temporary home at VillageWest/the Legends out by the Kansas Speedway.  Take a look at the Wizards website for a list of their kid-friendly promotions!  (David Beckham’s team will be here in September.  Moms, I’m looking at you…)

Kansas City T-Bones baseball also at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in KCK - multiple dates, May through September - there couldn’t be a better, kid-friendly place to be this summer.  Check out their website for promotions schedule! 

Kansas City Royals baseball at the K.  Get out there and check out the new scoreboard (largest reply display in major league baseball) and the rest of the major renovations underway!  Oh, and root root root for the home team too!

Saddle & Sirloin Hunter Jumper Show (Hale Arena - American Royal Complex next to Kemper Arena) - June 6-8 - get down to the West Bottoms and take a look at these beautiful horses and their talented riders.

Starlight Theatre’s schedule this summer looks pretty kid-friendly!  The Drowsy Chaperone runs from June 17-22 (I don’t know much about this one), High School Musical on Tour runs from July 15-20, The Music Man runs from July 28-August 3, Fiddler on the Roof runs from August 11-17 and Les Miserables closes the season with a run from September 10-16.

Broadway Across America comes to Kansas City’s Music Hall (downtown KCMO) next fall and winter(you can still see Wicked as a part of this series May 5-27 - not advised for children under about 8 years of age).  Next season’s line-up looks fantastic and VERY kid-friendly!  Lion King and Annie will be here in October, November, December and early January.  Late winter and early spring will see Cirque Dreams and Phantom of the Opera as well as the Color Purple.  Individual and season tickets will be going on sale soon.  Look for tickets to Lion King on June 7!

If you went downtown a few weekends ago for the Big 12 Basketball Tournaments, you probably saw (or at least heard about) the new College Basketball Experience (CBE).  CBE is located at the Sprint Center, 1401 Grand, Kansas City.  It is part museum - home to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame - and part interactive fun. 

The CBE’s interactive exhibits include a full basketball court with six goals as well as a 3-on-3 court, both open for play at all times.  If you aren’t up for a full game, there is a rebounding game, a passing challenge, a slam dunk area with adjustable rims and a three-point shooting area. A beat the clock game and a free throw station both are complete with audio and video of crowd noise.  The ESPNU Media Lounge shows college basketball on big screens and - most fun of all - lets kids “call” the highlights of the game off of a teleprompter and then watch their own recorded sportscast played back to them.  The younger crowd will enjoy the “pop-a-shot” and Kids’ Court, where the goals are placed a bit lower than usual for those under nine years old.

The Hall of Fame is no normal museum either.  It honors the legendary players and coaches of college basketball through exhibits that include video and digital graphics. One really cool display shows the “Coaching Tree”, describing the lineage of today’s college basketball coaches in graphics. 

 The College Basketball Experience is open Wednesdays through Sundays until 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are free for kids 5 and under; $7.00 for kids 6-17 and $10.00 for adults.  This might be just the new idea you and your kids have been looking for!