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 Bob Dole:
It’s an obvious pattern at this point. Grade A Moron.
Dude he called downtown Kansas City a third world country. I think there is a disconnect. The P&L area and actual downton area is very affluent. Its expensive. The Paseo, Eastern urban neighborhoods are the problem spots. If you have paying events like concerts, sporting events etc its not usually an issue but free, large gatherings due to sheer proximity it becomes and issue. Thats why you hear about issues at the plaza of alot of these youths gathering etc. Its why they used to block off Westport..or used to not sure what they do now. [Reply]
An absolute hell hole of a downtown. FAR worse than downtown KC.
Yet in the dozens of Cardinals games I’ve been to over the years, including GASP night games, I’ve never once felt unsafe walking to and from the stadium. Never had a problem finding parking. Never had a problem with traffic postgame.
Downtown is where baseball belongs. I get that it’s new and there are questions and it’s replacing an iconic stadium for Royals fans. But I think you’re going to like the new park in the long run. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bearcat:
Meh, I'll worry about stuff that's blocks away when it actually disappears forever... not going to pre-worry about stuff on Main Street or even west of that until it's actually all turned into Famous Dave's and Olive Gardens.
It's all abstract for you. For me, I've worked, performed, and frequented so many venues and restaurants -many owned and operated by dear friends who are all about to get ****ed. And for what? I'm playing at Record Bar on the 23rd. Wonder how many more times I'll do that and my friends who own the place are going to do now. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Dude he called downtown Kansas City a third world country. I think there is a disconnect. The P&L area and actual downton area is very affluent. Its expensive. The Paseo, Eastern urban neighborhoods are the problem spots. If you have paying events like concerts, sporting events etc its not usually an issue but free, large gatherings due to sheer proximity it becomes and issue. Thats why you hear about issues at the plaza of alot of these youths gathering etc. Its why they used to block off Westport..or used to not sure what they do now.
I said American cities are absolute cesspools and that's not really arguable at this point. Just stop...Not sure why anyone would want to defend what they've becone. [Reply]
Originally Posted by comochiefsfan:
Busch Stadium is in downtown St. Louis.
An absolute hell hole of a downtown. FAR worse than downtown KC.
Yet in the dozens of Cardinals games I’ve been to over the years, including GASP night games, I’ve never once felt unsafe walking to and from the stadium. Never had a problem finding parking. Never had a problem with traffic postgame.
Downtown is where baseball belongs. I get that it’s new and there are questions and it’s replacing an iconic stadium for Royals fans. But I think you’re going to like the new park in the long run.
Originally Posted by Bob Dole:
Are you and BWllie married?
Considering the area around Busch is a pile of filth growing more dangerous and absolutely disgusting overflowing with bums and trash by the year...I'd say yes. These boys love trash, vagrants, gangs, being mugged, car stolen, and gun violence I guess [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brioni:
Considering the area around Busch is a pile of filth growing more dangerous and absolutely disgusting overflowing with bums and trash by the year...I'd say yes. These boys love trash, vagrants, gangs, being mugged, car stolen, and gun violence I guess
I view downtown Denver in that sort of decline. Was so many homeless downtown until the Governor moved them out due to the NBA Finals. I've not been back downtown recently, but between the homeless and the illegals what could ever go wrong.... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chris Meck:
Cool, except this isn't an ugly unused area. It's a thriving bunch of locally owned businesses that all built the cultural heart of the city together without any outside interference.
There are ugly unused areas. Put it there and I wouldn't squawk
Petco wasnt an ugly/unused area.
Businesses around there (small to large) hit the jackpot.
Businesses will always come and go, but having a stadium right next door would not be near the top of the list of reasons for a business failing. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Warpaint69:
I view downtown Denver in that sort of decline. Was so many homeless downtown until the Governor moved them out due to the NBA Finals. I've not been back downtown recently, but between the homeless and the illegals what could ever go wrong....
America is a lovely place, "OMG homeless people,can we like kill them or something" [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
America is a lovely place, "OMG homeless people,can we like kill them or something"
It's a nice idea. 9/10 times, homeless aren't these poor souls just down on their luck. They're scumbags that chose drugs/alcohol/violence/insanity over fitting into normal society. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pablo:
It's a nice idea. 9/10 times, homeless aren't these poor souls just down on their luck. They're scumbags that chose drugs/alcohol/violence/insanity over fitting into normal society.
