Kansas City Mavericks COO James Arkell talks playoff hockey, family, and the ultra-accessible "city within a city" he's building in Kansas City for son Michael.

James Arkell wears a lot of hats around Kansas City — COO of the Kansas City Mavericks hockey team, founder of Halo Care Collective, and the driving force behind Michael's WonderWorld, a first-of-its-kind ultra-accessible theme park, arena, and hotel complex coming to Johnson County. In this episode, James and Mindy dig into what makes Mavericks games one of the best-kept secrets in Kansas City sports — affordable tickets, free parking, the chase for the Kelly Cup, and why hockey fights are 100% organic. Then the conversation turns personal: James opens up about his son Michael's ultra-rare genetic diagnosis, the family's years-long fight with insurance, and how that experience sparked Halo Care Collective — a first-in-the-nation hub bringing 18+ clinical partners and 60+ community organizations under one roof, opening January 2027.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What to expect at a Kansas City Mavericks hockey game (and why it's one of the most affordable nights out in KC)
  • The Mavericks' affiliation with the Seattle Kraken and their push for the Kelly Cup
  • James's road to sobriety and finding home in Kansas City
  • Raising a son with a one-in-a-million rare genetic diagnosis
  • The insurance fight that changed everything for their family
  • Building Michael's WonderWorld — an ultra-accessible amusement park, arena, and hotel
  • Inside the Halo Care Collective, opening January 2027 in Johnson County

Links & Resources:

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Chapters

0:00 – Intro
1:02 – Meet James Arkell: From Wichita to Kansas City
7:00 – How James Met His Wife Sarah & His Sobriety Story
8:22 – The History of the Kansas City Mavericks
13:57 – Gameday Traditions & the Mavericks Fan Experience
19:10 – ECHL vs. AHL vs. NHL & the Seattle Kraken Affiliation
25:13 – Why Mavericks Tickets Stay Affordable for Families
30:44 – Chasing the Kelly Cup & Team Culture
36:14 – Giving Back: Mavericks Community Partnerships
38:04 – Meeting Michael: A One-in-a-Million Diagnosis
44:02 – The Insurance Fight No Family Should Face
48:47 – The Idea Behind Michael's WonderWorld
54:44 – Building a "City Within a City" in Johnson County
1:00:05 – Inside the Halo Care Collective (Opening Jan 2027)
1:07:02 – Reinventing the Philanthropy Model
1:09:20 – Vision for the Future & Final Thoughts

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

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