Key Takeaways
- New STR hosts in Kansas City still lack World Cup bookings with 28 days until the first match.
- FIFA’s delayed ticketing process has stalled booking commitments as some travelers seem to be waiting to finalize accommodations.
- Operators are turning to Facebook groups to reach international visitors directly as traditional booking channels are showing a slight lag.
Rachel Payne just launched a new short-term rental in Lawrence called The Saint, and she still doesn’t have a single World Cup booking.
Payne and her husband are among dozens of new hosts across the Kansas City metro who rushed to open properties ahead of the tournament, hoping to capture what could be massive demand from an estimated 650,000 visitors.
But with less than a month until kickoff, operators in both Kansas and Missouri are discovering that early projections haven’t materialized into firm reservations, local outlet “KCTV” reports.
Delayed ticketing slows rental bookings
Juli Dee Hannah, who operates 10K Property Management near Lee’s Summit, is renting an Airbnb for $700 per night for up to eight people.
Every World Cup weekend remains available except one.
Wade Hannah, her partner in the business, blames FIFA’s delayed ticketing process for stalling booking plans, saying travelers can’t commit until they know which matches they’ll attend and which countries advance.
“It’s not a Kansas City thing, it’s a World Cup thing,” Wade said. “So we’re hoping to take advantage as those plans solidify, especially as the countries come in place.”
Related: Kansas City short-term rental supply surges ahead of World Cup
Both couples have turned to Facebook groups to reach international travelers directly.
The Hannahs and Paynes represent a broader trend—hosts banking on World Cup demand that experts warned might arrive later than expected as ticket sales lag.
Payne remains optimistic that filling, though
The Saint during the tournament would be huge for their new business.
She called the timing perfect, even if bookings haven’t arrived yet.
But with Algeria’s national team training at nearby Rock Chalk Park and Airbnb projecting $3,500 in average host earnings during the tournament window, operators in Lawrence may be running out of time to capture international demand before it shifts to Kansas City proper.
Good things come to those who wait. Or at least that’s usually the way things work in the STR world. Late bookings are better than no bookings.
