Royals Release Plans For New Stadium
MLB Trade Rumors • • sports
Key Points:
- The Kansas City Royals announced plans for a new $3 billion ballpark in downtown Kansas City's Crown Center neighborhood, in a joint venture with Hallmark Cards that will include mixed-use developments and new headquarters for both entities.
- The stadium itself will account for about two-thirds of the total cost, with funding coming from a mix of private sources—primarily the Royals with over $2 billion—and public contributions from the state of Missouri and the city of Kansas City.
- The Royals' current home, Kauffman Stadium, opened in 1973 and is one of the five oldest ballparks in Major League Baseball; the team's lease there runs through 2031, providing a timeline for the move.
- Although a recent sales tax measure for stadium funding was rejected by Jackson County voters, the Royals plan to remain in Missouri, unlike the NFL’s Chiefs who are relocating to Kansas City, Kansas in 2031.
- Key details such as the exact timeline, final public funding amounts, and city council approval remain unresolved, with council members emphasizing the need for formal development agreements and financing plans before the project can proceed.
