KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals intend to build their new downtown ballpark blocks away from T-Mobile Center and the Power & Light District, scrapping two concepts elsewhere in the city for a location that puts the stadium closer to existing entertainment areas.
The Royals revealed plans for the $2 billion-plus ballpark project Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, two days after the Kansas City Chiefs -- whose Arrowhead Stadium shares the Truman Complex with their existing ballpark -- won their third Super Bowl in the past five years, and one day before the city celebrates another Lombardi Trophy with a parade downtown.
"This is going to be awesome!!! Can't wait!" Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes wrote on X in response to renderings of the new Royals ballpark.
The parade route Wednesday travels along Grand Avenue to Union Station, or directly past the location of the new ballpark.
"We're the second-smallest city with both an NFL franchise and Major League Baseball club," Royals owner John Sherman said, "and we want to sustain ourselves as a major league city. We want these franchises to thrive here for another 50 years."
The new ballpark -- located in "the heart of Kansas City," per an X post from the team -- will seat about 34,000 fans, or roughly 3,000 fewer than Kauffman Stadium, and the Royals are hopeful it would be ready for the 2028 season. The final design is still under development, but renderings shown Tuesday paid homage to the K's swooping roof lines and iconic center-field fountains.
"The ballpark will have a really great feeling of intimacy," Sherman said.
Kansas City started play at Municipal Stadium in 1969, then moved to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the current ballpark from 2009-12.
The Royals unveiled two other locations last fall, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri. Both were met with tepid reaction from fans, many of whom still love Kauffman Stadium, and political infighting ensued over the extension of a sales tax in Jackson County, Missouri, to help pay for the ballpark.
The Royals' ownership group plans to invest more than $1 billion in private funding for the project, but some of the money will come from the 3/8-cent tax, which also will provide funding that the Chiefs plan to use to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.
"I know I'm biased here," Sherman said, "but between what the Chiefs can do out here with an expanded tailgate experience, and what we do down there, we will have two of the best pregame and postgame experiences in all of sports."
The Royals and Chiefs pushed to put the sales tax on the April 2 ballot, and Jackson County legislators initially approved the referendum, only to watch Jackson County executive Frank White -- a five-time All-Star and member of the Royals' Hall of Fame -- veto the measure. Last month, two legislators changed their vote and joined five others in overriding the veto.
That not only put the tax extension on the ballot, it put the onus on the Royals to reveal exactly what voters will be paying for.
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The new ballpark would be situated adjacent to Interstate 670, where the Kansas City Star's former printing press building sits largely vacant, and tie together several disparate neighborhoods into a more cohesive downtown environment.
Just to the north, where new parks would cover the interstate and allow for safe pedestrian traffic, sits Power & Light, the home to many existing bars and restaurants. To the south lies the Crossroads Art District, a trendy enclave anchored by the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. And to the east is the historic 18th & Vine neighborhood, home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the American Jazz Museum and iconic restaurants such as Arthur Bryant's Barbeque.
"The fact of the matter is, we've always been cognizant of this site. It never went away," said Earl Santee, the founder of the Kansas City-based sports architectural giant Populous. "We looked at other sites over time, and this is my 23rd major league ballpark site, and it's timing that leads you to the end, and this is the right timing for this site."
Santee compared the 17.3-acre site to downtown ballparks built in Denver, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis. There are about 20 property owners in the area and the Royals will need to negotiate with each of them to purchase their parcels of land.
"Development is happening in ways that are engaging," Santee said. "This will amplify the brand of Kansas City."
Indeed, the Royals hope the project continues what Sherman called "a golden era" for the former cowtown on the plains.
Over the past decade, Kansas City has hosted two World Series, baseball's All-Star Game and the NFL draft, while a $1.5 billion airport opened just over a year ago. The Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League will open their new purpose-built stadium next month on the north edge of downtown, and Arrowhead Stadium was recently awarded six games -- including a quarterfinal match -- by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
"This is about a lot more than just a new home for the Royals," said Brooks Sherman, Royals president of business operations, who is unrelated to the team's owner. "This generational project is intended for something great."
Originally Posted by comochiefsfan:
I’m not a Jackson County resident so this isn’t my fight.
But it does make me cringe when I see people online say dumb shit like “Vote No. Stay at the K.”
Like people understand that’s not an option right? The Royals will either get a new ballpark here or they will get it elsewhere.
This vote is basically, “Vote yes to have Major League Baseball in Kansas City. Vote no to get rid of it.”
Which, if people don’t want baseball here and are fine with losing the Royals then more power to them. I just hope everyone understands exactly what the stakes are.
Yeah it sucks to have to subsidize billionaires, but we don’t live in “Shouldland” we live in “Reality World” where unfortunately that’s the cost of having pro sports teams.
Losing pro sports would be incredibly costly to KC and the region and I think there is more value in being a pro sports city than the anti “sportsball” crowd would ever admit.
Think of how much money and name recognition and prestige the Chiefs have brought to KC in the last decade. It’s enormous and that’s something that’s hard to put a price on.
If I lived there, this would be an easy yes. But again, easy to say when it’s not my money.
Some folks don't give a spit about sports but are tired of constantly being taxed for rich benefit and hobby I like sports and I don't live in Jackson County. So it's their business I suppose.
I do believe that everything they pour money into downtown KC fails. There is a history in it. I think there is more danger in losing the Royals because of Sherman. I think its all about making money not love of baseball in KC. He will sell it all for a huge profit. Thats how shysters work the system. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bearcat:
Yeah, I'm not sure which is worse for the sport... the lack of a salary cap or teams not wanting to spend anything.
I think Beltran said he was staying in KC for 23 million/year (or whatever it was) and Glass told his agent "make him stay for 22"... and maybe that one specific story never even happened, but the point being cheap ass billionaire owners suck.
That's what makes the NFL so great, Salary cap Max and Minimum... Teams can't be cheap and teams can't outspend. [Reply]
Is there an actual plan or is it like the airport where they said, trust us... it'll be fine.
As far as I'm concerned, I've paid my dues. let them leave.
Still wondering how the Royals stadium was deemed to be unsafe yet Arrowhead, which was built at the same time by the same people, is fine. I guess you can pay an expert to come up with any conclusion.
Reality is that the 3/8 cent doesn't hurt me yet it's a burden on those people in Jackson county who will never go to a game and can barely afford to live anyways. [Reply]
This whole thing boils down to trust. People dont trust politicians and slick talkers like Sherman and Lucas
Jackson County homeowners are still steamed over the property tax fiasco a year ago that has yet to be resolved. Pile on Frank White wants to score a get even with the Royals for them passing him over in years past
I dont think the mayor has the credibility he thinks he has. His ego has told him he can do anything and he will be seen as a superstar. But folks are getting tired of his happy ass asking for more and more tax dollars for showboat projects and being promiced the world.
Airport was hard sell and this week we see the first airline leave for lack of business. Then we have the streetcar line that seems to be in constant need for more money. And we have an economy that is not just booming.
People dont believe the K is falling down while Arrowhead shines like new money. That does not pass the smell test for most. And the K s a beautiful baseball stadium.
The whole downtown idea has holes for a lot of people. Parking is a question in spite of the promove crowd saying its a non issue. Then the location sort of has a taint going for it. First it was one place, then maybe north of the river then another, then out of the blue its in the Crossroads. Existing businesses in the Crossroads got blindsided and many still say the Royals, mayor or whomever have not talked to them.
Who benefits from this deal? Mayor Q, Ex mayor Sly, every union contractor involved in tear down and build new, special interests for sure, Sherman stands to make out like Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. People who own the ground where new stadium will go get out of a very marginal realestate area with big bucks as a reward.
The Chiefs benefit but the PR value in a Chiefs improvement is huge, Royals not so much
And the special interest money for community stuff is a payoff to get special interests to back off.
Joe Working guy taxpayer has every reason to be not a fan
All that said, I bet it passes. But the next go round for tax incerreases will pay the price for Shermans gold [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Oh, kindly shut the fuck up with this bullshit.
The Power and Light and Crossroads areas aren’t anything like that. They’re not proposing people park east of Troost between 20th and 40th (which is the only area in KCMO that fits that description).
I never got my catalytic converter stolen when I went down to power and light... which was way more often than I went to Arrowhead/ Kaufman yet happened to both my dad and I. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bearcat:
Yeah, I'm not sure which is worse for the sport... the lack of a salary cap or teams not wanting to spend anything.
I think Beltran said he was staying in KC for 23 million/year (or whatever it was) and Glass told his agent "make him stay for 22"... and maybe that one specific story never even happened, but the point being cheap ass billionaire owners suck.
It wasn’t even David Glass that said No. It was his Tommy Boy idiot son Dan Glass. [Reply]
Originally Posted by HonestChieffan:
This whole thing boils down to trust. People dont trust politicians and slick talkers like Sherman and Lucas
Jackson County homeowners are still steamed over the property tax fiasco a year ago that has yet to be resolved. Pile on Frank White wants to score a get even with the Royals for them passing him over in years past
I dont think the mayor has the credibility he thinks he has. His ego has told him he can do anything and he will be seen as a superstar. But folks are getting tired of his happy ass asking for more and more tax dollars for showboat projects and being promiced the world.
Airport was hard sell and this week we see the first airline leave for lack of business. Then we have the streetcar line that seems to be in constant need for more money. And we have an economy that is not just booming.
People dont believe the K is falling down while Arrowhead shines like new money. That does not pass the smell test for most. And the K s a beautiful baseball stadium.
The whole downtown idea has holes for a lot of people. Parking is a question in spite of the promove crowd saying its a non issue. Then the location sort of has a taint going for it. First it was one place, then maybe north of the river then another, then out of the blue its in the Crossroads. Existing businesses in the Crossroads got blindsided and many still say the Royals, mayor or whomever have not talked to them.
Who benefits from this deal? Mayor Q, Ex mayor Sly, every union contractor involved in tear down and build new, special interests for sure, Sherman stands to make out like Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. People who own the ground where new stadium will go get out of a very marginal realestate area with big bucks as a reward.
The Chiefs benefit but the PR value in a Chiefs improvement is huge, Royals not so much
And the special interest money for community stuff is a payoff to get special interests to back off.
Joe Working guy taxpayer has every reason to be not a fan
All that said, I bet it passes. But the next go round for tax incerreases will pay the price for Shermans gold
Sherman finds a way to win no matter what probably but there's a lot on the line for Lucas, etc. This fails and the Chiefs have a real shot of moving to Kansas. That's a huge loss for KCMO so that's part of it too. The Royals have not done a good job during this process but the fact that people are acting like Sherman is some kind of slick guy and the Chiefs are innocently sitting back saying "aw shucks" is a little bit weird to me. Mark Donovan is flat out saying they are going to consider leaving KC if this doesn't fly. Sherman hasn't said anything like that. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Kc tenants can suck my dick
Go royals
Perfect example of the shake downs going on led behind the scene by MayorQ. Every wack job group is demanding cash for support and they got it...blood money
I read HCs post carefully because he doesn't usually babble.
You don't trust the parking and you think the location still need to address about 4 businesses.
Gosh, those are really sad reasons not to revitalize your downtown. LA has a downtown that rolls up at night. Denver's I walk all the time. And if you think it's because I'm a thug, i assure you Rain Man would too.
Fix your shit and all the other stuff you're worried about goes away too. Can't get people downtown en masse without a reason. Can't fix your downtown without people. [Reply]
