KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The fate of an iconic Missouri arena might depend on the memories of a generation of Midwesterners who once flocked there for concerts and sports events.

A proposal by Kansas City-based Foutch Brothers to transform Kemper Arena into a mecca of amateur sports competition relies heavily on historic tax credits to fund the $25 million project.

Those credits aren’t available unless the arena is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is generally for places built more than 50 years ago.

Kemper Arena is only 42, but supporters say its status as one of the biggest entertainment venues of its time make it worthy of consideration.

The arena is seldom used and has steadily declined since the Sprint Center opened in 2007.