A quick thought for this evening . . .
Jeremy Ploeger is a Kansas City businessman, he's politically active and he's helping to revitalize the West Bottoms with his new professional indoor football franchise.
Mr. Ploeger deserves a lot more press than what he's getting.
At any other point in Kansas City's history he would be a media darling. Sadly, corporate content distributors and timid newsies based in the suburbs don't realize the magnitude of Mr. Ploeger's efforts.
Unlike so many large corporations or real estate developers: He's really not getting the royal treatment from City Hall in terms of tax breaks or subsidies. While I'm sure there is some consideration, it's not nearly as much as this town has offered for other business ventures.
More importantly, Mr. Ploeger genuinely seems to care about Kansas City sports fans and residents of the urban core.
"It is a true honor to be able to bring a top caliber indoor professional football team to Kansas City. Football is everything to our city," Ploeger said. "That is why I guarantee that when you, your family, or friends, come to Kemper Arena to watch our team play, you will have a great time."
It's a nice sentiment. More importantly . . . .
Mr. Ploeger's brand of sports ownership and political activism is something that reminds us of old school Kansas City movers and shakers who also understood the importance of civic involvement.
So often local media is willing to celebrate any hipster art project or lost cause involving pets . . .
Meanwhile, guys like Jeremy Ploeger are often overlooked because they hold strong political opinions, they aren't afraid to shake things up and they're willing to take risks. Mr. Ploeger is a classic Kansas City success story and his efforts remind us of a nearly forgotten time in this town's history when successful business people earned community standing by way of their accomplishments rather than simply because of the their various affiliations.
TKC was thrilled to BREAK THIS STORY and preview what could be a significant biz, sports and cultural development for this town. But in the aftermath . . .
We hope Jeremy Ploeger is successful with his football team and we invite local media people to pay more attention to up and coming Kansas City power player.