Scott Asner

Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG)

Best Winter Activities in Kansas City

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Scott Asner

Hello all, Scott Asner here. Winter and cold weather are approaching, but that doesn’t mean that Kansas City is slowing down. There are hundreds of things to do in KC year-round, so here are some of the best winter and holiday activities the city has to offer.

Ice Skating

The Ice Terrace at Crown Center is open from November to March. Ice skating is a great way to warm up and stay active when the weather is cold. Gliding on the ice is great exercise, and a fun way to spend time with friends and family. The convenient location makes it a one-stop errand, so you can get some holiday shopping done after your skating session is over.

GloWild at Kansas City Zoo

Are you an animal lover? From September 1 to December 11, you can attend GloWild at Kansas City Zoo. This family-friendly event features spectacular lanterns shaped like animals, so it’s best to book a time slot after dark. The festival route is around 1-mile long, with live acrobatic performances located at the Helzberg Penguin Plaza. The Penguin Plaza is roughly halfway through the route and shows start at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30, so plan accordingly!

Luminary Walk at Overland Park Arboretum

For another eye-catching light display, the annual Luminary Walk at the Overland Arboretum has dates throughout November and December. The route is around 1.5 miles but there are several shortcuts in the park for an alternate route that is just short of 1 mile. Attendees can visit Santa in his Woodland Depot and catch musical performances in various locations around the park. The Luminary Walk is a popular festival and is always a crowd-pleaser for families. The arboretum is also hosting an adults-only candlelit walk on December 1.

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site

If you are a history buff looking for an educational winter activity, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop is always entertaining and interesting! Attendees can learn about the history of the Civil War, the Mahaffie Family, and on Saturdays, enjoy blacksmith demonstrations. The Heritage Center is also hosting Cookies With Santa events on select dates in December.

These winter activities make Kansas City a lively place to be, even when it’s cold and dark! If you visit one of the attractions from this list, I hope you enjoy it and make some great holiday memories.

~ Scott Asner, Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Best Sports Activities in KC

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Scott Asner

Hello all! Scott Asner here. Kansas City is a great sports town, and it’s no secret that I am a huge sports fan. I love watching games and keeping up with my favorite teams, and I like to do sports to stay active as well. If you are looking for sports entertainment around KC, keep reading. Today, I’m sharing a list of some great sports activities right here in Kansas City.

The Dugout

If you are looking for batting cages in KC, The Dugout is a solid choice. You can make a reservation for batting cages, pitching tunnels, and turf fields to practice or bring your team for drills. The Dugout has a staff of baseball and softball instructors for team classes or private lessons. If you are looking for a kid-friendly activity, The Dugout also hosts birthday parties and camp sessions.

T-Shotz

T-Shotz is an exciting, virtual driving range for all ages. Not your average driving range, T-Shotz has simulations of some of the best golf courses in the world. Even those who are not golf fans will enjoy the fun mini-game simulations! With a full menu of food and drink available, T-Shotz also makes for a great event venue for any occasion.

The Soccer Lot

For the soccer fans, The Soccer Lot has pickup games, leagues, camps, and tournaments. The Soccer Lot is known for hosting 5-a-side teams, so it’s a great way to play a game with a smaller group. With only four field players and a goalie on each side, these games, sometimes called “mini soccer” are usually more fast-paced. This location hosts events and parties, so if you’re looking for soccer activities for a group, look no further.

The College Basketball Experience

Basketball lovers will have a blast at The College Basketball Experience. Home of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, this venue is a sports fan’s dream. There are interactive games and activities, so it’s a fun time for all ages. For all things basketball, there is no better place to spend the day than The College Basketball Experience.

Kansas Speedway

If motorsports are more your speed, you can’t miss the Kansas Speedway! It’s no wonder NASCAR is so popular in Kansas City, the races are always thrilling to watch. Anyone who loves cars and action will have a great time at the Kansas Speedway, and it’s a popular attraction for all ages. It does get loud at the track, so it is a good idea to bring ear protection, especially for kids.

Needless to say, if you are a sports fanatic like I am, you’ll find no shortage of activities here in Kansas City! Whether you’re a local or a first-time visitor, I hope this list will help you get your fill of sports entertainment in KC.

~ Scott Asner, wannabe musician and Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) in Kansas City, Missouri.

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The Kansas City Royals are Being Sold: What Could This Mean for the Franchise?

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Scott Asner

Kansas City Royals always brings the heat

My wife and I are long-time fans of the Kansas City Royals, and we try to hit a home game whenever we can; it’s one of our favorite family pastimes. Currently, the Royals are sitting 4th overall in the MLB’s American League Central (AL Cent), but their performance isn’t the only thing fans are talking about and sportscasters are reporting on.

After much speculation, it’s been confirmed that the Kansas City Royals are being sold to local businessman John Sherman, for $1 billion. The official announcement was made by the Royals’ current owner David Glass and his family on August 30th. While Glass explained to Kansas City fans how difficult this decision was to make, there are high hopes that John Sherman will make an excellent addition to the team.

A season-ticket holder, minority owner of the Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City native, John Sherman will be the third owner of the franchise since it was founded in 1969 by Ewing Kauffman. While the prospect of new ownership is daunting to fans, teammates, and management, John Sherman is certainly the right man for the job. This change in ownership could mean a whole new ball game for the Royals, and one that exudes success.

I believe that Sherman will truly be an asset to the Royals, as his experience speaks for itself. As a former minority owner of the Cleveland Indians, Sherman has seen the operations of major league baseball–he knows how the system works and the types of strategies that will evoke prosperity for the team and the franchise as a whole. However, there has been some speculation that Dayton Moore steps away from the general manager’s office while Ned Yost might also make an abrupt departure.

We can only wait to see what the final outcome will be, but it’s important to keep in mind that the Royals have always been a strong and stable franchise–more than any other franchise within the last decade. As a long-time fan, I have hope that this new deal will bring forth a new era for the Kansas City Royals.

~ Scott Asner Kansas City, Missouri

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A Brief History of Kansas City

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Scott Asner

Some people call it “Paris of the Plains,” – others call it the BBQ Capital of the World – or simply K.C. There are a lot of different names for Kansas City, Missouri but I just call it home.

From its early days as a settlement for traders and trappers, Kansas City has been a burgeoning center piece in the American story. Today, the metro area is home to over 2 million people, and is a major business sector and logistical hub in the heartland of the country.

Allow me to give you a short history of this great city.

Founding and Early Days

Kansas City became famous as a waypoint for traders, trappers and pioneers making their way westward.

The area around Kansas City was initially inhabited by Native American tribes (primarily the Kansa Indians and the Shawnee tribe) in its early days before its development by French traders and Missouri’s later inclusion into the United States.

Kansas City itself was founded heavily by the activity of settlers and pioneers who made their way along the Kansas and Missouri Rivers – scouting out the land in search of animals, farmland and strategic points for traders. A prominent merchant and missionary named John Calvin McCoy opened up a store for fellow travelers, sprouting neighboring settlements and what would eventually become Kansas City.

By mid-century, Kansas City had emerged as a key port along the Missouri River, and had established itself as a primary point of interest for travelers as the great westward expansion was underway. The budding town was eventually incorporated into Missouri, although half of the metro still remains in Kansas state to this day.

The Boom

In the late 1800’s to mid 1900’s, Kansas City went through a boom. Due to its prime location as a crossroads to the west, the city became a destination for travelers and newly arrived citizens which brought in some of its most defining qualities.

In 1881, the state of Kansas enacted prohibition laws for its residents – barring the consumption and selling of alcohol. Luckily for those residents located on the western side of the Kansas River, they could get a drink just over the bridge in Missouri where alcohol was still legal. This created a boom in taverns and saloons throughout Kansas City (especially along our famous 12^th street.)

The explosion of profitability from these saloons brought in other forms of business (banks, manufacturing, hotels, etc.) and led to the expansion of Kansas City’s influence. The city soon gave birth to its own distinct form of Jazz, as well as placing itself on the map for the world’s best BBQ.

Current Day

After the mid-1900’s Kansas City continued to develop along with the rest of the United States. Population growth has continued to climb as the city remains an attractive site for businesses, young professionals and families in the Midwest.

Today, we are the country’s 29^th most populous metro area. We are home to a multitude of fabulous schools and universities. We enjoy a multitude of sports teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals – and yes, our BBQ is still number one.

We have more boulevards than Paris, filled with places to see and things to do. If you should be so lucky to find yourself in this part of the country, make sure to visit some of our most notable locations, like the National WWI Museum and Memorial or the famous Union Station.

Until next time.

~ Scott Asner Kansas City, Missouri

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3 New Technologies in Real Estate

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Scott Asner

It’s no secret that I am a real estate enthusiast – not just in my work with Eighteen Capital Group (18CG) here in Kansas City, but also as a hobbyist.

I love learning about the latest trends and seeing where the market is going at any given time, and you can learn a lot by observing industry changes on a macro scale. Like all fields of business, real estate is constantly shifting with the times and the last place you want to end up is behind the curve.

Plus, it’s just incredibly interesting to see how the latest tech is being used for the benefit of the owner and seeker. Every year it seems like there is something new that comes out to potentially revolutionize the industry.

Today, I thought I’d share some of the most exciting things to keep an eye on in the next year.

1.) Virtual and Augment Reality

Virtual reality (or VR) used to be a fantasy of the not-so-distant past. I remember several various attempts at producing a viable concept throughout the 80’s and 90’s, but it seems is if the tech has finally arrived.

Maybe you’ve seen the demos at your local mall, or maybe you’re living an alternate life in the comfort of your home – at either rate, VR is an emerging technology that could revolutionize real estate as we know it.

From experiencing a virtual tour of your place prior to move-in, or seeing your dream home before building – there are several attractive possibilities for this tool. Sure, there are some digital programs out there that let you play around with various design concepts, but imagine a fully realized creative platform that lets you see the end product before your very eyes.

Property owners and builders can host instant and always-available walk-throughs for prospective buyers. And buyers will be able to plan for their future by knowing how their home will look and feel once they move in. This also opens the door to interior/exterior design.

2.) Drone Photography

Drones came onto the scene just a few short years ago and multiple industries quickly found use for flying tech. In real estate, the drone has been adapted primarily to be used for photography and video recording that would have been impossible in the past.

There are some amazing feats being accomplished with drone photography, from a bird’s eye view of the property or neighborhood, to gliding through open rooms. Check out this amazing video, shot with a drone equipped with slow-motion capture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrlusuwPvcs

These little machines are controlled by manual or digital remotes and can go upwards of 400 feet – getting amazing footage of land properties or homes for sale. Some drones can be outfitted with expensive, HD cameras that capture hyper-detailed images/video. A professional level drone can cost anywhere between a couple hundred dollars and several thousand – depending on what specs or quality is needed.

This new tech is certainly a game changer for owners trying to showcase their properties, but it will also open up a whole area for business. Costing a couple hundred dollars per flight – drone pilots can make good money, while also offering a fair price for stellar photos.

3.) Improved Data and Platforms

Since the arrival of platforms like Zillow or Realtor.com, buying and selling platforms have completely changed the real estate business. Having properties listed on these platforms has never been more important and can mean the difference between success and failure.

For buyers and sellers alike, it’s important to tap into the massive market looking for specific requirements. One of the great features of these various platforms is the ability to nail down the exact specifications that home buyers are looking for – allowing them to sort through thousands of listings to compare the most suitable matches.

Gone are the days of “searching and hoping” to find a home that you can tolerate. Now, you can get the home of your dreams curated to your profile and neatly organized by filter options. This dramatically cuts down on the need for a third-party, and will continue to do so as personalized algorithms become more advanced.

These are just a few of the latest technological developments in real estate. It will be interesting to see how these develop and what other advancements come into the fold, but I would choose these as the big winners in innovation.

~ Scott Asner Kansas City, Missouri

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