Bold Tourism Campaign To Convince World Cup Tourists That Northland Strip Malls And Cul-De-Sacs Are “Attractions”

 The Clay County Commission has approved a contract with Platte County under the shiny new Go North KC brand, a supposed “movement” to transform the Northland into some kind of tourist hotspot. Because when people think vacation destination, their first thought is Gladstone, Missouri.

The deal, finalized Sept. 4, is being billed as a bold step to unite the region’s “attractions and experiences.” Translation: they’re going to try and convince outsiders that driving past strip malls and chain restaurants counts as a cultural experience.

“Go North KC isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement,” proclaimed Megan Sahlfeld, Clay County’s marketing and tourism manager, with all the enthusiasm of someone trying to sell tickets to a festival in a Walmart parking lot. Platte County’s CVB director, Jennifer Goering, chimed in that the Northland is “stronger when we work together,” which is probably true—but stronger at what exactly? Getting people to pull off I-35 for gas?

The counties are touting plans for a new website, digital tools, and joint campaigns, all powered by state tourism grants and local buy-in. In other words, taxpayer money funneled into branding exercises to convince the world that Liberty and Parkville are somehow must-see destinations on par with, say, Paris or even Kansas City proper.

And of course, they’re banking on the 2026 FIFA World Cup bringing in tourists who will, apparently, skip the Plaza, downtown, or Arrowhead Stadium and instead rush to tour the wonders of North Kansas City’s industrial parks and cul-de-sacs.

At the end of the day, Clay and Platte’s big tourism dream feels less like a “movement” and more like a pipe dream—because no matter how many logos, slogans, or websites they launch, the KC Northland simply isn’t a tourist destination. It’s a place you pass through on your way to somewhere else.

“People underestimate how badly German tourists want to see our Bass Pro Shops,” said Jennifer Goering, Platte County’s Convention & Visitors Bureau director.

Despite the optimism, skeptics argue the Northland faces an uphill battle in becoming a tourist hotspot. “It’s a great place to live, sure,” said one resident, “but let’s be real—nobody’s planning a honeymoon in Gladstone.”

Still, Clay and Platte leaders remain undeterred. With a little branding, a few tax dollars, and a lot of wishful thinking, they’re confident they can transform the KC Northland from “the place you drive through on your way to the airport” into “the place you might accidentally exit into while lost on I-29.”