Kansas City mayor discusses Ted Lasso filming boost and tourism incentives

Kansas City, Missouri mayor Quinton Lucas explained that the Ted Lasso season-four premiere was shot at locations like the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Gates Bar-B-Q, all on the Missouri side of the border. He attributed the choice of location to Missouri’s film-tax incentive program, which Kansas does not currently have. Lucas said the production provided free publicity for the city’s tourism board and complemented recent exposure from World Cup matches.

He described the city’s welcoming atmosphere and the cross-city pride that visitors experience, regardless of whether they come from the Kansas or Missouri side. The mayor also shared personal details about his family’s viewing habits and his own limited exposure to the series. Overall, he framed the event as a showcase of Kansas City’s cultural assets and a boost to its tourism profile.