General News in the 316

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WBJ - Wind Surge surges back in baseball attendance during third season

Wichita Wind Surge baseball at Riverfront Stadium in 2023 included cheaper concession prices and more giveaways. It also included the team's biggest year-over-year jump in attendance for any of the 30 Double-A clubs around the country.

The Wind Surge averaged 4,676 fans in 69 home dates this season, a 40% increase over last season's average.

Call it the Jay Miller effect.

Miller made bold, optimistic predictions when he arrived back in Wichita last December to take over as president of the Wind Surge a second time, this time under the ownership of Diamond Baseball Holdings. That ownership group, which owns more than a dozen minor-league clubs, bought the franchise from an ownership group that included Jordan Kobritz and Jane Schwechheimer, wife of Lou Schwechheimer, who died in 2020 after bringing the club to Wichita from New Orleans.

The Wind Surge held its own in attendance in 2021, its first year, averaging 4,021 fans. But the pings of scanned digital tickets were more infrequent in 2022, as the club had the lowest attendance in the 10-team Texas League: 3,341 fans per game.

Fourth in Texas league attendance this year (Amarillo, Tulsa, Frisco) with the 2nd largest peak attendance behind the 12,045 Frisco managed.

We're only a few seasons in but it's still looking good with attendance and such. Hosting more events will always improve things as well. They mention that both the Maize v Maize South and Kapaun v Bishop Carroll games had over 7K each.

I think I saw recently that Friends will play a game there against I believe McPherson this year.

Still think a couple of outdoor concerts there could be beneficial at some point. I know that can be a bit complicated during the season though as it does put more strain on the grounds crew to keep the field in good order.

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WBJ - After inflation's boom, here's how Wichita ranks for affordability

Inflation has soared over the past two years, but Wichita continues to be one of the most affordable cities in the country.

The Wichita area ranked as the seventh-most affordable among the nation's 100 largest metros. That's up five spots from the city's 2022 ranking.

The Business Journals analyzed Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Regional Price Parity Index data to determine the rankings. The index is a measure of how much goods, housing and other services across the country cost in a specific metro area compared to the national average. Metros with a score below 100 in the index are cheaper than the national average, while those above 100 are more expensive.

Of the 100 metros analyzed, the city had the most affordable goods, scoring at 93.96.

Wichita logged an overall score of 90.49, an improvement from its mark of 91.93 a year ago.

The city topped all regional peers on the list, including Little Rock (No. 12), Tulsa (13), Oklahoma City (16), Fayetteville (21), Omaha (25) and Kansas City (27).

In the face of rising local home values tied largely to limited inventory, Wichita ranked No. 6 for housing affordability.

The city's worst score came in the utilities category, where it found itself in the bottom third.

This is something Wichita should be able to use to help attract business as well.

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I think some of you might like this

Eagle - New lounge coming to Old Town for a very particular kind of music

Gary Jones has been on the board of the Wichita Jazz Festival for about six years, and he said the group is always looking for venues for the festival in April.

The latest search has resulted not only in a new venue for the festival but a new year-round lounge for Old Town.

Walker’s Jazz Lounge is opening in December at 252 N. Mosley, which is the former Oasis Staffing space on the southeast corner of Second and Mosley just east of the Pumphouse.

“We stated talking to people,” Jones said. “There was just a lot of appetite for a high-end lounge.”

Local, regional, and national musicians.

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There's a nice slideshow that should be viewable by all.

WBJ - From vacant to reimagined: HiTone Lofts approaches launch in Old Town

A new-to-Wichita developer's conversion of a historic Old Town building into apartments is about to go live.

HiTone Lofts, a 75-unit, $15-million project from Tulsa-based Ferguson Property Group, should move in its first residents in early November, said Barbara Sipes, Ferguson's vice president of operations.

"We've got people who have been calling for over a year waiting for us to open, so I think we'll have a lot of occupancy soon," said Sipes, whose company owns and manages properties across the region but had yet to step foot in Wichita.

It's an opening years in the making for the developer, which purchased the old Winfield Wholesale Grocery building at 701 E. 2nd St. — vacant since 2015 — seven years ago.

Rent starts at $879 per month and go as high as $1,600 for the most high end units.

55 Studio, 13 one bedroom, and 7 two bedroom apartments available.

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KSN - Convention for sports event planning coming to Wichita

A convention that connects sporting events and competition planners with venues and locations is coming to Wichita.

The 17th annual S.P.O.R.T.S. Relationship Conference will take place Oct. 14-17, 2024, at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. A news release from Visit Wichita says the conference brings “together the nation’s top sports event owners and rights holders with representatives from a very select number of host destinations and industry suppliers.”

“We are very excited to host such an incredible and nationally recognized sports conference here in Wichita,” says Susie Santo, President & CEO at Visit Wichita. “Sports event planners will enjoy the ease of working with our partners in the hospitality community, our central location and the many impressive venues we can offer their group.”

Not a bad event to be hosting. Make some more connections and show off what the city can offer them.

[WuDrWu]

KAKE - 'You're the future of tech': Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak visits Wichita

The Great and Powerful Woz.

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Butler Community College announces new offerings in beer, real estate

For aspiring brewers and those wanting to learn the ropes of real estate, Butler Community College has rolled out new learning opportunities.

The college's Office of Career and Workforce Education, formerly called BETA, recently announced new courses presented in partnership with The CE Shop, a national real estate education organization, and El Dorado’s Walnut River Brewing Co.

Butler's collaboration with The CE Shop provides a real estate educational platform to students and includes pre-licensing, exam prep, post-licensing and continuing education packages. The Butler/CE Shop online education website is now live.
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The college's partnership with Walnut River Brewing Co. — the second-largest craft brewery in the Wichita area, according to the WBJ's analysis earlier this year — features the launch of an eight-week course starting in February 2024.

“BrewU: Beer Crafting 101” will be a certificate program with hands-on training for those wanting to learn more about brewing and grow their skills and experience.

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KSN - Wichita's airport voted No. 3 in the nation

Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita has been voted as the No. 3 best small airport in the nation.

It’s the second time the airport has received the honor for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award. The first time was in 2020.

Officials with the airport say the honor is important because it can help attract conventions, sporting events, and even tourism to the region. They say it also helps reinforce its relationships with the airlines that provide service to the airport.

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Local oil company continues to grow

WBJ - With third generation at the helm, Wichita's Hampel Oil set for HQ move as company grows

Hampel Oil has closed a pair of deals in the last two months — one in real estate, another an acquisition — as the longtime, family-owned business continues to expand.

In late August, the Wichita-based company purchased the 18,000 square-foot office building at 3531 N. Ridge Road, where it plans to move its headquarters by early 2024. Hampel's current main office is at 1245 N. West St.

"The main selling point for us was the location, which is a newer and growing part of northwest Wichita," said company president Scott Hampel in an email.

The company will move into the second floor of the two-story building, which will continue to have Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty and Security 1st Title as ground-floor tenants.

Hampel Oil, a provider of several energy-related products and services, then acquired Oklahoma-based Steagall Oil Co., which distributes fuels, lubricants, chemicals and propane.

"Their business is very similar to what we do," said Hampel, adding Steagall has locations in both Chickasha, Okla., and Fort Worth, and 45 employees.

They have a number of locations in KS, OK, TX, AR, and PA and have purchased land in NM for further expansion of their business.

[Veritas]

KSN - Wichita's airport voted No. 3 in the nation

Had to fly into the new KCI recently. Definitely nicer than the old dump they used to have. Can’t do anything about the distance from downtown.
The new terminal is spacious, and clean. I did notice some broken doors and moving walkways which was surprising. I didn’t see too many scuff marks on the floor which has been a reported issue. The biggest distraction in my opinion is the need for a bus to get to the rental car facility in contrast to a nearby garage or train shuttle.
Overall though it is certainly a big big improvement. They installed glass jetbridges similar to ICT.

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New trend opening in Wichita Wednesday, expansion plans coming quickly.

Eagle - Wichita's first 'dirty soda' shop opens in west Wichita this week. East-side shop is next

As he prepares to open his first Just a Sip dirty soda shop in west Wichita this week, entrepreneur Derek Sorrells has shared that he’s also signed a lease on a spot for an east-side location.

Sorrells, owner of local businesses Papa’s General Store, The Arcade, Sweet n Saucy and Let’s Go Build, is opening his first Just a Sip shop on Wednesday in the former Fried Pies space at Northwest Centre, 13th and Tyler, and during its first two days in business, the shop will give away free drinks.

Then, just before Thanksgiving, Sorrells plans to open his second Just a Sip in the spot at 2126 N. Webb Road that Baskin-Robbins vacated in March. The free-standing building faces Webb Road and is part of the Cambridge Market development at 21st and Webb.

He’s not done, either: Sorrells said he’s actively looking for spots in Derby and Andover to add Just a Sip stores, and he’d also like to eventually add a few more in Wichita, specifically in south and in northwest Wichita.
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The Just a Sip menu, which is included below, offers drink combinations dreamed up by the staff, or customers can build their own drinks. More than 1,000 different combinations are possible, Sorrells said.

Among the options listed on the soda menu are the Dr. Velvet, featuring Dr. Pepper mixed with cranberry, lime juice and fresh lime, and the Peachy Bellini, which combines Diet Coke, vanilla, peach and Italian cream. (Sorrells will call his sodas “sassy sodas,” as the phrase “dirty soda” is trademarked.)

The menu also has a selection of “Sparklers,” which combine fruits and syrups with sparkling water, as well as “Lotus Infusions,” which are plant-based energy drinks. A small food menu includes things like sugar cookies with teal frosting and cinnamon sugar or salted pretzel bites with dips like melted cheese, icing or Nutella. There’s also a menu directed at kids.

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Another big name coming back to Wichita

KAKE - Blake Shelton bringing 'Back To The Honky Tonk' tour to Wichita

Country music superstar Blake Shelton will make a return trip to Kansas next spring, and he's bringing Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts.

Shelton announced Wednesday that the second leg of his "Back To The Honky Tonk" tour will launch in February 2024 and will stop at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita on March 29, 2024.

Ticketswill be available via an exclusive fan presale beginning next Tuesday, October 24 through Thursday, October 26. The general on-sale will start on Friday, October 27 at 10 a.m. Tickets for the INTRUST Bank Arena show on March 29 can be purchased online at selectaseat.com, by phone at 855-755-SEAT (7328) or in person at the Select-A-Seat Box Office at INTRUST Bank Arena.

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The slideshow should be available for all to see.

WBJ - 372-unit luxury apartment complex in northwest Wichita on track for spring completion

The complex — which has a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units — is 89% occupied on the 204 units completed so far, according to Taylor.

In addition to a large clubhouse and exercise room, Avante features a wide range of outdoor amenities — from a heated pool and hot tub, to pickleball courts, a basketball court and firepits.

It also has a dog run and two dog wash stations.

The complex's overall design from Krehbiel Architecture is "edgier," Vantage Point president Paul Jackson has said, helping it stand out.

They're looking to possibly build something similar out east.

[ShockBand]

The slideshow should be available for all to see.

WBJ - 372-unit luxury apartment complex in northwest Wichita on track for spring completion



They're looking to possibly build something similar out east.

What, no orange shag carpet like what was in my first Wichita apartment? Kind of like below but wall to wall. And matted. And kinda nasty from nasty things done on it.

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What, no orange shag carpet like what was in my first Wichita apartment? Kind of like below but wall to wall. And matted. And kinda nasty from nasty things done on it.

That's sad and disturbing