General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Yingling Aviation continues acquisition run as it buys Wichita aircraft interiors service provider

After a 2024 that saw Yingling Aviation make multiple acquisition moves, the Wichita-based company has started the new year with another purchase.

Yingling — a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and fixed-base operation services business — announced last week it had bought Global Engineering & Technology Inc. GETI, an aircraft interiors service provider founded in 1991, is also headquartered in the Air Capital.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Integrating GETI into our operations will allow us to greatly increase our scope of work for interior renovations while accelerating client turnaround times," said Yingling Aviation CEO Bob Rasberry said in a news release. "Having collaborated closely with GETI over the years, we have firsthand knowledge of the quality of their team and its outstanding reputation across the industry."

Yingling said bringing GETI into the fold adds 60,000 square feet of facility space to the company, which already had several hundred thousand square feet in its Wichita footprint aided by a series of expansions earlier in the decade.

[SubGod22]

Riverfront Stadium getting a new name?

WBJ - Homegrown Wichita bank poised to put its name on Wind Surge ballpark

The Wichita Wind Surge has been working to land a Riverfront Stadium naming rights partner for years.

It's now closing in on one — the city's only homegrown publicly-traded bank.

The Wichita City Council will consider Tuesday whether to approve an amendment to an earlier facility use agreement for Equity Bank (NYSE: EQBK) to secure stadium naming rights in a 15-year deal that would change the downtown ballpark's name to Equity Bank Park.

"This is just an investment back in the community," said Equity Bank founder and chairman Brad Elliott, in an interview. "We think the timing is right, and the opportunity is right."

We don't have full financial disclosure at this point, but it appears the City of Wichita would get nearly $120K in the first year and then increase by 3% each following year. Apparently a revenue share agreement for naming rights is in the initial contract with the Wind Surge.

Equity Bank had a fantastic 2024 in regards to their stock and acquisitions.

For some reference, Intrust Bank is paying $8.75M over 25 years.

I have nothing to back this up, but I'm going to guess the full financial commitment will be around $5M. I'm sure we'll know more after the city council approves the deal tomorrow.

[SubGod22]

Here's a positive.

WBJ - Children's Mercy plans to expand ambulatory specialty care in Wichita

Children's Mercy intends to expand its ambulatory and specialty care presence in Wichita.

Leaders of the Kansas City-based pediatric hospital confirmed Thursday in a statement to the WBJ its plans to expand in the region to "meet the needs of the community," though details of when and where are unknown.

"(We) will share more details about the location and services as plans are finalized in the first half of this year," a spokesperson said.

Children’s Mercy is a nonprofit health organization that provides pediatric services with 8,600 experts in its health system in the Kansas City, Mo. region and beyond. With its latest location in Springfield, Mo. last year, the pediatric hospital has eight locations in the Kansas City region with a presence in Great Bend, Wichita and Topeka, according to its website.

In Wichita, Children's Mercy operates a site in the Wesley Medical Arts Building at 3243 E. Murdock. The location, which opened in 2013, includes multiple specialty clinics including rheumatology, dermatology and surgery — among others.

Children's Mercy is one of the premier medical facilities in the region and having more and better locations throughout the area and not making everyone travel to KC is a good thing, and something they seem to be focused on.

[Veritas]

Phil Ruffin sitting 2nd row it appears behind Bill Clinton at the inaugural.
Not sure if too late, but we’ll see if Ruffin can help get that Chip factory approved with Govt help in BelAire. Will help population growth near Park City and help Ruffin’s new casino (horse racing) in Park City.

Correction: 3rd row center aisle, 2 rows behind Jill Biden.
Quite the honor for Ruffin.

[SubGod22]

Phil Ruffin sitting 2nd row it appears behind Bill Clinton at the inaugural.
Not sure if too late, but we’ll see if Ruffin can help get that Chip factory approved with Govt help in BelAire. Will help population growth near Park City and help Ruffin’s new casino (horse racing) in Park City.

That plant would be huge for population growth not only in Wichita and Bel Aire, but Andover, Benton, Kechi, and Park City. That could definitely help Ruffin and many others. I would hope that the new leadership that Integra is now under would still support building that facility if the gov't funds ever arrive.

[SubGod22]

More negative Towne West news (is there positive Towne West news?)

Wichita by EB - Dick's Sporting Goods to close Towne West location

One of the biggest retailers at Towne West Square will soon be closing.Dick’s Sporting Goods is set to close their Towne West location at 4600 W. Kellogg Drive on March 1.

The news was confirmed by employees with Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Dick’s Sporting Goods opened in 2003 after taking over the former Service Merchandise location at Towne West Square. This closing will now leave a massive 50,000 square foot void in a shopping center that probably benefited from a nationally recognized retailer.

I haven't been to a Dick's in ages. Not surprised to see them leaving that location considering all of the other issues.

[SubGod22]

This is cool

WSU - Ben Stein to headline WSU Barton Speaker Series

Members of the community can now reserve their free ticket to hear Ben Stein speak at Wichita State University's 2025 Barton Speaker Series.

Stein — an American writer, lawyer, actor, comedian and commentator on political and economic issues — is the featured speaker at the event, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

In 1985, Stein portrayed the iconic monotone teacher in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." He has since appeared in hundreds of movies and TV shows. For six seasons, he hosted a game show called "Win Ben Stein's Money," one of the first shows on Comedy Central. Together with his colleague, Jimmy Kimmel, he created almost 1,000 episodes of the game show, which earned three Emmy Awards.

Stein was a columnist on economics for The New York Times and has been a regular columnist and commentator for Fox and CNN. He has written dozens of books, most of them about finance, and he became one of the leading critics of the junk bond super scandal.

Over the past 25 years, Stein has been a prolific speaker on politics and economics, addressing audiences at major universities such as Harvard Law School and Yale University.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series, established in 2021, revives WSU's tradition of the Forum Board Lecture Series. This annual event is designed to expose people to diverse perspectives, fostering critical thinking and meaningful conversation.

I've always liked and respected Stein. It's a pretty big deal to have him in Wichita for this.

[ShockerDropOut]

This is cool. I may have to attend.

[SubGod22]

KSN - US Figure Skating Championships could bring Wichita $8 million

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships begins Tuesday in Wichita. It’s the first time for the city, and it’s expected to bring in a seven-figure profit for the city. Those lacing their skates up say bringing their sport to Kansas is a privilege.

“It’s an honor,” said U.S. Junior Champion Luke Wang.

Defending their junior pair title, Luke Wang and Olivia Flores take the ice, hopefully, to share the passion they have for figure skating on the biggest stage Wichita has seen.

Wang said it’s a thrill.

“Being able to perform in front of other people, I think that is truly the most special thing. That’s what I love most about it,” said Wang.

It’s a thought shared between the pair.

The weather this week may limit some of that economic impact as visitors may not want to get out and explore much, but the impact will still be significant.

[SubGod22]

Olympics.com - Bradie Tennell exclusive: "Every moment on the ice is like a gift"

The two-time US national figure skating champion has been to hell and back - twice. Watch her at 2025 edition in Wichita, Kansas, this week to understand how, and why.

No, not again.

That was the initial sentiment - and then some - of Bradie Tennell on the morning of Halloween 2023 when she broke her ankle in practise, forcing her to sit out the remainder of the season.

This, having only come back the previous year after missing the entire Beijing 2022 Olympic campaign due to a separate foot injury, which she describes as a “mystery” to this day.

But Tennell would not be denied. She had been there before, at the bottom of an emotional well and knew how to claw back from the dark mental dungeon.

“It was very frustrating because last year, I was coming off of the 22-23 season, coming back from a different injury,” the two-time national champion told Olympics.com, ahead of this week’s US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

Nice article on Bradie, who is competing in Wichita this week and is one of the best the USA has to offer.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita named one of the most affordable places to retire by GoBankingRates. See why

Planning on moving outside of Wichita when you retire? You may want to reconsider.

That’s because one ranking by GoBankingRates named Wichita as the seventh most affordable U.S. city to retire out of the 100 biggest U.S. cities with more than a 10% senior population. The personal finance came up with the ranking by looking at the retirement income needed to cover living costs in that city.

“Due to inexpensive homes and relatively low grocery, and transportation costs, Wichita makes the cut for one of the best cities to retire rich,” the GoBankingRates ranking said.

With reported housing costs sitting 44.9% lower than the national average, as well as a livability score of 60, Wichita ranks just below Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and just above El Paso, Texas.

Toledo, Ohio, won the top spot, with a reported $37,646 of total annual expenditures as well as a livability score of 62.

In comparison, GoBankingRates reports the annual total expenditures in Wichita to be $42,547.

Other regional cities in the Top 10 include Memphis (3), Lubbock (5), and Tulsa (9).

[SubGod22]

CoW approved the naming rights deal for the stadium, which will now be known as Equity Bank Park. The deal runs through 2039. I'm hoping we'll see some numbers soon on the deal.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - How the naming rights deal came together to turn Riverfront Stadium into Equity Bank Park

After years of searching, the Wichita Wind Surge now has its Riverfront Stadium naming rights partner.

The Wichita City Council unanimously approved an amendment Tuesday to a previous facility use agreement — the final step toward Equity Bank (NYSE: EQBK) and the team finalizing a 15-year deal that changes the downtown ballpark's name to Equity Bank Park.

Wind Surge general manager Matt Hamilton said the agreement with Equity, Wichita's only publicly-traded bank, illustrates a level of commitment that will provide value to the team, bank and city.

"It just shows the belief that a community partner has in your organization to sustain success during that period of time," Hamilton said in an interview. "We are very invested in this market, and they (Equity) are, too. So when you have a partner that you can walk in lockstep with to bring an experience to the ballpark that is next to none — that only makes our lives that much easier."

The naming rights deal marks a big moment for the bank and the Wind Surge, while also kickstarting a long-awaited revenue stream to the city, which will split naming rights dollars with the team. Over $2.1 million is projected to head the city's way from the deal.

Hamilton and Equity Bank leaders told the WBJ they hope the partnership shines an even brighter light on the city by facilitating additional marquee events at the ballpark.

"The whole point of what we would like to drive is... how do you get more opportunities for things that make people look at Wichita as a place that's more desirable to live?" Equity Bank chairman Brad Elliott said.

I'm not sure how the split works. I don't think it was 50/50, but I haven't seen anything on the ratio of funds. The city will receive $117,500 the first year and it will go up by 3% each year.

Part of the agreement is getting more events at the stadium. They mention more concerts, the Savannah Bananas, KCAC baseball, football, and soccer games. Continuing things like high school football games, Asian Market, and Prairie Fire Marathon.

Not gonna lie, getting the Savannah Bananas in could be big. I've only seen clips on YouTube and such, but those guys are a lot of fun. Wichita I believe still does well for the Harlem Globetrotters and I see no reason the Bananas couldn't find success here.

This may end the sponsorships of other banks and credit unions within the park. The did announce that the club level will be renamed after Equity, which points to an end of the Bravely Onward Club that was sponsored by Fidelity. But the deal doesn't exclude other financial institutions from advertising within.


I do hope that more events will be coming as that's apparently a part of the agreement. I haven't been to anything other than baseball there, but I think the high school football games have been successful. There's really good potential in having some sort of outdoor concert series there as you can bring in some pretty good artists. I have no idea what kind of capacity it would have for such an event. If you put a stage of some sort in the center and sell seats as well as room on the field and other standing room areas you can probably fit in at least 15K. That's just a guess, but it gives you a lot of room for various attractive acts of all kinds.

I believe the Jayhawk football championship was played there a few years ago. I think it was well attended but I also think they benefited from being Butler vs Hutch. But it could be a nice neutral site for the league if they're interested.

I've already mentioned my thoughts on the Bananas.

Pulling in KCAC games, or championship games, as a neutral site wouldn't suck. It's an easy drive for those supporters of most of the member schools. I'm not sure if they'll get many soccer matches there as it's probably pretty hard to pass up the facilities at Stryker if you're wanting to play in Wichita. But it can't hurt to try.

I also think a lot of these events become even more reasonable when development in the Ballpark District starts to open up. Having a nice hotel with a few more restaurants nearby always helps selling such things. And if the current development taking shape beyond right field leads to more development to the north it only makes the whole area more attractive to those looking to bring events in.