Kansas City is making strides to restore the historic Western Auto sign, a prominent symbol of the downtown area since 1952, which has been dark since July 2025. As the city prepares for the FIFA World Cup starting on June 16, the sign is expected to be relit by the end of the tournament or shortly thereafter. The city has committed $100,000 from its Illuminate KC initiative for the repair of the sign's lightbulbs and neon tubes, while the homeowners’ association for the Western Auto Lofts will fund maintenance for the next 10 years. The agreement follows a previous proposal from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 124, which was declined by the loft residents. Repairs will be conducted by Kansas City-based Infinity Sign Systems, with work expected to start next week. Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed optimism about the restoration, highlighting the sign's importance to the city’s identity and its anticipated revival ahead of the World Cup.