Russell Selected for Negro Leagues Museum Expansion

The construction firm will lead a major expansion of the Kansas City museum and build an adjoining 144-room hotel.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Baseball

Abstract expressionist illustration of architectural arches and structural steel beams, referencing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum expansion project in Kansas City. — Construction firm Russell has been selected to lead a significant expansion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, which will also add a 144-room hotel to the site. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Contractor Russell has been selected to lead the construction of a significant expansion for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. The project will also include the development of a 144-room hotel on the museum campus.

Why it matters

The development seeks to accommodate growing interest in the history of the Negro Leagues, which have drawn 2 million visitors since 1997. Expanding the facility helps preserve the legacy of Andrew Rube Foster and the league he formed in 1920.

The museum currently spans 10,000 square feet and hosts 70,000 visitors annually, with a total of 2 million guests since 1997. The planned $55-million Pennant Hotel will feature 144 rooms.

The players

Russell

This is the construction firm selected to manage the expansion of the museum and the development of the hotel.

Andrew Rube Foster

He was the influential figure who founded the Negro National League in 1920.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

This institution is dedicated to preserving the history of Black baseball leagues and currently serves as a tourist hub in Kansas City.

Grayson Capital

This organization serves as the development group overseeing the master plan for the museum campus project.

The details

The expansion will adjoin the historic Paseo YMCA building, which is slated to house the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center. Design plans feature concrete and steel construction incorporating vintage stadium-style arches and columns, with the project also adding multifamily units and a parking garage.

Andrew Rube Foster formed the Negro National League in 1920.
The current museum location opened in 1997.

The Big Picture

The expansion project honors the legacy of the 1920 founding of the Negro National League by significantly increasing the physical footprint of the museum. This development follows a pattern set by the institution since 1997 to memorialize the historical contributions of these players.

The project will triple the existing museum space, providing a larger capacity for the 70,000 visitors who attend annually. Local residents and tourists should expect future changes to the campus layout as residential units and the parking garage are integrated into the site.

The takeaway

The transformation of the museum campus aims to modernize the visitor experience while honoring the deep roots of baseball history in Kansas City. Future visitors can expect a larger facility that integrates educational and hospitality services into one historic district.