Generous donation from Breidenthal Foundation caps two-year renovation project

Kansas City Kansas Community College officially opened its renovated field house on September 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the end of a challenging two-year project that saw the Blue Devils basketball and volleyball teams displaced from their home court.

The renovation, made possible by a generous donation from the Willard J. & Mary G. Breidenthal Foundation, addressed significant structural issues discovered during the initial floor replacement, including mercury mitigation due to 1970s construction practices that required extensive sub-flooring work.

“When Dr. Mosier puts his mind to something and he wants it done with such a spirit of excellence, he will figure out how to get it done,” said Mary Ricketts, a college trustee, praising President Dr. Greg Mosier’s leadership in securing the funding and completing the project.

The facility’s completion comes at a crucial time for the college, which will host KSHSAA basketball playoffs over the next two years, bringing high school athletes from across Kansas to campus.

A Recruiting Game-Changer

Head basketball coach Brandon Burgette expressed amazement at the transformation when he first stepped into the renovated facility. “Being away from your facility and obviously coming back to it, you didn’t realize what it looked like, and obviously with the new floor and new accessories. I’m amazed, just because in college, you want all the nice bells and whistles, and I think we have that now,” Burgette said.

The coach believes the upgraded facility will significantly impact recruiting efforts. “Having that same playing field here with a great floor and great attraction and big arena feel to it, I think it’ll be great for recruiting. A lot of people will get to come and watch and see what we have and I think it’ll help the attraction aspect, ’cause that’s what college athletes like.”

During the two-year displacement, KCKCC teams were forced to play their home games at other schools’ facilities, creating additional challenges for both players and fans.

A Troubled History

The field house was built in 1972 when the college moved to its current location on State Avenue, and featured a rubberized floor, the best practice at the time. In 2009, the college replaced the original with a wooden floor, but within a few years a bulge developed just outside the playing floor, behind the scorer’s table.

Efforts to ventilate the subfloor to reduce moisture and to shim the low spots did not alleviate the problem, which worsened until the decision was made to close the floor in October 2023.

Expected to take only one year, it was 18 months from the time the floor was shut down until the helical piers to support the new floor were installed. The installation and painting of the new floor took another six months before the floor reopened on July 1, 2025.

According to Greg McVey, KCKCC’s athletic director, removal of the floor and installation of piers and the floor cost about $650 thousand. The estimated cost of renting other venues for practice and games and transporting athletes was another $200 thousand.

Community Investment Creates Ripple Effect

Trustee Ricketts emphasized how the foundation’s investment is creating broader community engagement with the college. “It’s that ripple effect. It’s like once one comes, the others are like, ‘Oh, they did what? I don’t want to miss out. I want to be a part of the support,'” she explained.

The renovation represents more than just athletic facility improvements — it’s part of a broader effort to reconnect the college with its community roots. “We know in like rural towns and rural communities, the community college, the high school, that’s the thing. We have to bring that same passion back and let them know we’ve got the excitement here as well,” Ricketts said.

Expanding Beyond Athletics

President Dr. Greg Mosier highlighted several other major developments at KCKCC, including the upcoming Kansas City, Kansas Community Education, Health and Wellness Center. “Construction is right on schedule. We should start moving items in in May and June of 26 for a fall 2026 opening, which will be just fantastic for the community,” Mosier said.

The college is also expanding its workforce development programs to meet local industry demands. Key programs include automation engineering technology and skilled maintenance technician training, designed to serve companies like Panasonic, Orange EV, and Marvin Windows.

“There’s a huge demand with all the automation that’s happening in advanced manufacturing these days,” Mosier explained, noting that the programs utilize “computers and CNCs and programmable logic controllers and AC/DC circuitry.”

The college is also adding a commercial component to its construction program this fall and continues to strengthen its healthcare programs.

Return to Downtown Roots

Another significant initiative involves establishing a downtown location at 7th Street and State Avenue that will bring the college back to its geographical origins. “It’s taking us, honestly, back to our roots, just a few blocks from where the junior college started and making it accessible to our community members so we can reduce some of the barriers, especially when it comes to transportation,” Ricketts said.

The Breidenthal Foundation Legacy

A donation from the Willard J. & Mary G. Breidenthal Foundation, co-led by siblings McKenzie and Ben Breidenthal, made the field house renovation possible. McKenzie Breidenthal, a KCKCC alumna and former Kansas City, Kansas early childhood educator, recently joined the KCKCC Foundation board.

The foundation continues the philanthropic legacy established by their grandfather and continued by their father, George Breidenthal Jr. Their giving focuses on scholarships, arts, education, social services, and youth services throughout the greater Kansas City region, with notable contributions including a $1 million donation to Kansas Athletics for improving Allen Field House and a $250 thousand gift to UMKC’s women’s basketball program.

For Dr. Mosier, the facility represents both an achievement and an opportunity. “We’ll bring a lot of people onto campus so they can see KCKCC, what we have, what we offer. The beautiful facilities that we have, the wonderful people that we have working here. So it’s just a great opportunity to introduce KCKCC to a lot of people who may not know who we are, that we even exist.”

As Coach Burgette prepares for the upcoming season with “a lot of new faces,” he maintains high expectations. “We want to put our heads down and play fast and be aggressive and be tough. I think toughness wins, and that’s something that we’ll have.”

The Blue Devils will finally be playing on their home court again this winter, in a facility that reflects both the college’s commitment to excellence and the community’s investment in its future.