The Smokey River Entertainment District in Missouri is set to transform the Kansas City area with legal cannabis consumption.
After voters approved Amendment 3 to legalize adult-use cannabis, an ambitious entertainment district project is underway.
On Nov. 9, Besa Hospitality Group announced the future opening of a "cannabis entertainment district" along the Missouri River, serving people who live in the Kansas City metro area. This multimillion-dollar project will be called Smokey River Entertainment District and is scheduled to open on April 20, 2023--as reflected on their website's countdown timer.
Joey Pintozzi, Vice President of Operations and Marketing for the company told CBS affiliate KC TV 5 that “We have an opportunity to showcase cannabis and the acceptance of cannabis in our everyday lives. We’re normalizing cannabis through hospitality. This is an entertainment venue first and foremost. Cannabis just happens to be part of that experience. People will be free to legally consume in some of the venues and enjoy being themselves."
Jack Mitchell, an entrepreneur, and Tony Pintozzi have teamed up to get involved in Missouri’s medical cannabis industry. According to Fox 4, the first phase of their development is expected to cost $30-50 million. However, if they continue with future phases of development, the total cost could be significantly higher.
The concept for the venue includes an amphitheater, two indoor entertainment venues that can accommodate 500 to 2,000 people each, festival grounds, food and beverage concepts, corporate event spaces, and wedding sites.
Smokey River Entertainment District is a multi-use space that will provide thousands of jobs and host some of the top names in music, comedy, and the arts, according to developers. The district is located in the village of River Bend, about 20 minutes away from downtown Kansas City.
The joint project is with BesaMe Wellness, a medical cannabis dispensary in the state. Last Tuesday, voters approved Amendment 3 with 53% voting in favor of regulating adult-use cannabis.
“This is an incredible opportunity for ALL communities,” said Jack Mitchell, CEO of the Besa Group of Companies. “This facility will help us develop the region's music, and hospitality economies together while also being an amphitheater and entertainment venue."
The project will occur in two phases: Phase one, opening in the spring of 2023, includes the festival grounds, food and beverage concepts, and a 1,500-seat live music venue. The second phase opens in the spring of 2024 and features the Smokey River Amphitheatre with 14000 person capacity.
The Smokey River Entertainment District website greets you with, "Welcome to the future of nightlife and entertainment." This is a first-of-its-kind development in America that allows you to be yourself. situated 20 minutes east of downtown Kansas City along the banks of the Missouri river, go and experience all that this place has to offer.