New Kansas City Royals Stadium

{{Short description|Proposed baseball stadium}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = New Royals Stadium | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_size = | image = File:New_Royals_Stadium.jpg | image_size = | caption = Rendering of proposed stadium | former_names = | address = | location = [[Kansas City, Missouri]] | coordinates = | public_transit = | owner = | operator = | capacity = 34,000 | broke_ground = 2027 (projected) | opened = 2030 (projected) | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | rebuilt = | cost = $2 billion | architect = [[Populous (company)|Populous]] | project_manager = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | tenants = [[Kansas City Royals]] (expected 2030) | website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20231130100304/https://kcballparkdistrict.com kcballparkdistrict.com] }}

'''New Royals Stadium''' is a proposed [[ballpark|baseball park]] to be constructed in the [[Crown Center]] neighborhood of [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. It is planned to be the home of the [[Kansas City Royals]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), succeeding [[Kauffman Stadium]]. Announced in April 2026, the stadium is scheduled to open for the 2030 MLB season.<ref name="MLBApril2026">{{cite web|last=Rogers|first=Anne|url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-hallmark-cards-unveil-plan-to-bring-baseball-downtown|title=Royals, Hallmark Cards unveil plan to bring Major League Baseball downtown|website=MLB.com|date=April 22, 2026 |access-date=April 23, 2026|language=en}}</ref>

==Background== In 2019, a new ownership group led by [[John Sherman (businessman)|John Sherman]] purchased the Kansas City Royals from [[David Glass (businessman)|David Glass]]. The ownership group also consisted of construction company JE Dunn and private equity firms such as VantEdge Partners.

In 2021, Sherman, the team's majority owner, began speaking openly about his desire for the Royals to play in a stadium in [[downtown Kansas City]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230922015123/https://kcballparkdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-MG-LetterHeadDigital-CW-0724-FINAL1030pm.pdf Open letter from John Sherman][https://web.archive.org/web/20231130114028/https://kcballparkdistrict.com/faq New Ballpark FAQ]</ref> In November 2022, Sherman announced that the team would leave Kauffman Stadium prior to the end of their current lease, scheduled to expire at the end of the 2030 MLB season.<ref name=Downtown>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-pursuing-new-downtown-kansas-city-ballpark|title=Royals pursuing new downtown Kansas City ballpark|website=Royals.com|last=Rogers|first=Anne|date=November 15, 2022|access-date=November 15, 2022|language=en|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116020428/https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-pursuing-new-downtown-kansas-city-ballpark|url-status=live}}</ref> The team announced in June 2023 that the two final sites under consideration for the stadium district were the [[East Village, Kansas City|East Village neighborhood]] and [[North Kansas City, Missouri|North Kansas City]].<ref name=Truong>{{cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-narrow-potential-ballpark-sites-to-north-kansas-city-east-village|title=Royals narrow potential ballpark sites to North Kansas City, East Village|last=Truong|first=Wilson|website=KSHB.com|date=June 15, 2023|access-date=June 15, 2023|language=en|archive-date=June 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615153005/https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-narrow-potential-ballpark-sites-to-north-kansas-city-east-village|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/despite-luke-warm-season-royals-fans-are-fired-up-for-new-ballpark|title=Despite luke-warm season, Royals fans are fired up for new ballpark|last=Maddrick|first=Bryant|website=KSHB.com|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023|language=en|archive-date=November 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116232800/https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/despite-luke-warm-season-royals-fans-are-fired-up-for-new-ballpark|url-status=live}}</ref> However, a third site in the [[Crossroads, Kansas City|Crossroads district]] emerged as the final site chosen by the team in February 2024.<ref name=Dailey/>

While the [[List of Kansas City Royals owners and executives|Royals ownership group]] committed $1 billion towards a stadium and ballpark district, a larger portion of the funding would have come from the passing of an election referendum for a 40-year, 3/8th-cent sales tax to help finance the new Royals ballpark and renovate [[Arrowhead Stadium]] for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/kc-royals-reveal-plans-for-new-stadium-in-crossroads-but-who-pays-what-is-still-unclear/ar-BB1ieMMU |title=KC Royals reveal plans for new stadium in Crossroads. But who pays what is still unclear |accessdate=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/kansas-city-royals-release-renderings-of-proposed-downtown-stadium-april-vote-will-help-determine-funding/ar-BB1ihGkT |title=Kansas City Royals release renderings of proposed downtown stadium, April vote will help determine funding |accessdate=February 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/royals-downtown-stadium-announcement-didn-t-happen-overnight-here-s-how-we-got-here/ar-BB1ieQM7 |title=Royals downtown stadium announcement didn’t happen overnight. Here’s how we got here |accessdate=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/how-big-would-the-new-royals-stadium-in-the-crossroads-be-here-s-what-we-know/ar-BB1ieSq5 |title=How big would the new Royals stadium in the Crossroads be? Here’s what we know |accessdate=February 13, 2024}}</ref> This referendum was rejected by Jackson County voters on April 2, 2024.<ref name=Skretta>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212|title=Voters reject stadium tax for Royals and Chiefs, leaving future in KC in question|publisher=Associated Press|last=Skretta|first=Dave|date=April 3, 2024|access-date=April 30, 2024|language=en|archive-date=April 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430231139/https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212|url-status=live}}</ref> Even after the failed ballot initiative, the team still planned to open a new stadium by the start of the 2027 or 2028 MLB season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/article277944563.html|title=Inside Chiefs' plans for Arrowhead's future as Royals drive Kansas City stadium debate|last=McDowell|first=Sam|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 4, 2023|publisher=The Kansas City Star|language=en}}</ref> with a seating capacity of about 34,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39519845/royals-unveil-plans-ballpark-downtown-kansas-city-missouri-entertainment-district|title=Royals unveil plans for ballpark in downtown Kansas City|website=ESPN.com|date=February 13, 2024|access-date=February 13, 2024|language=en|archive-date=February 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214001556/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39519845/royals-unveil-plans-ballpark-downtown-kansas-city-missouri-entertainment-district|url-status=live}}</ref>

The plan was controversial, considering the proposed stadium location would have required over a dozen small businesses to close or relocate, the limited amount of parking downtown, and claims that Kauffman Stadium got a "bad batch of concrete" when built.<ref name="Dailey">{{cite web |url=https://www.kctv5.com/2024/02/13/royals-relocate-club-announces-move-truman-sports-complex-crossroads/ |title=Royals Relocate: Club announces move from Truman Sports Complex to the Crossroads |last=Dailey |first=Greg |website=kctv5.com |date=February 13, 2024 |access-date=February 13, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213210558/https://www.kctv5.com/2024/02/13/royals-relocate-club-announces-move-truman-sports-complex-crossroads/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Royals also had pledged to invest at least $1 billion towards purchasing and developing real estate around the stadium, but was only willing to pay $300 million towards a new ballpark.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skretta |first=Dave |date=2024-04-02 |title=Voters reject stadium tax for Royals and Chiefs, leaving future in KC in question |url=https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212 |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

Alongside the stadium plan, the 3/8th-cent sales tax also received significant public pushback due to the Royals and Chiefs struggling to present their finalized stadium plans to voters, bringing about several accusations of a lack of transparency throughout the process.<ref name="Skretta2">{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212 |title=Voters reject stadium tax for Royals and Chiefs, leaving future in KC in question |publisher=Associated Press |last=Skretta |first=Dave |date=April 3, 2024 |access-date=April 30, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430231139/https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 22, 2026, the Royals and [[Hallmark Cards]] announced a partnership to build a new ballpark in Crown Center, at the current location of Hallmark's corporate headquarters, instead of the Crossroads site. Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |last= Davis |first=JoBeth |title=Kansas City Royals, Hallmark Cards announce partnership for new downtown ballpark |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-hallmark-downtown-stadium-crown-center/71095482 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=22 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-hallmark-cards-unveil-plan-to-bring-baseball-downtown|title=Royals, Hallmark Cards unveil plan to bring Major League Baseball downtown|website=MLB.com|date=April 22, 2026 |access-date=April 23, 2026|language=en}}</ref><ref name="MLBApril2026" />

==Alternate proposals== The Royals also had considered relocating across the state border to [[Kansas City, Kansas]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/|title=Royals open to new Kansas stadium if lawmakers approve STAR Bonds|first=Olivia|last=Johnson|date=June 8, 2024|access-date=June 16, 2024|language=en|website=fox4kc.com|publisher=Fox 4 KC|archive-date=June 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615115442/https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as building a downtown ballpark in Washington Square Park, an area located between [[Union Station (Kansas City)|Union Station]] and Crown Center on the Missouri side.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article291020570.html|title=Royals, city of KC studying new downtown stadium site. Mayor Lucas wants to avoid vote|work=[[The Kansas City Star]]|last=McDowell|first=Sam|date=August 14, 2024|access-date=August 21, 2024|language=en}}</ref> In November 2024, it was reported that the Royals were also examining "two or three" potential stadium sites in [[Johnson County, Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-exploring-options-johnson-county-kansas/62886179|title=Royals reportedly exploring multiple stadium locations in Johnson County, Kansas|work=[[KMBC-TV]]|last=Sloan|first=Nick|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=November 13, 2024 |language=en }}</ref>

In May 2025, an affiliate of the Royals purchased the mortgage on the [[Aspiria]] campus in [[Overland Park, Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sloan |first1=Nick |last2=Kurtz |first2=Jackson |title=Royals confirm affiliate bought mortgage on Aspiria campus in Overland Park |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/royals-aspiria-campus-mortgage-overland-park/64909097 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=May 29, 2025 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=4 June 2025}}</ref> However, team officials denied that the campus was under consideration as a site for the development of a stadium.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Connor|first=Taylor|date=August 13, 2025|title=Royals' plans for former Sprint site remain up in the air: 'There is no deal'|url=https://kansascity.com/news/local/article311695770.html|work=Kansas City Star|location=Kansas City, MO|access-date=August 25, 2025}}</ref> In January 2026, the Royals confirmed that the team was no longer considering the Aspiria Campus as an option.<ref>{{cite web |last1= Seckington |first1=Dillon |last2=Officer |first2=Marcus |title= Kansas City Royals no longer considering Aspiria Campus stadium at 119th, Nall |url= https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/kansas-city-royals-no-longer-considering-aspiria-campus-stadium-at-119th-nall/amp/ |website=Fox 4 KC |date=January 27, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref>

On January 1, 2026, [[Kansas House of Representatives|Kansas House]] Speaker [[Daniel Hawkins (politician)|Dan Hawkins]] advised that the state of Kansas said the door was essentially closed in creating a STAR Bonds deal to build the Royals a stadium in Kansas. "The Royals and the Chiefs both had plenty of time," Hawkins said. "They had 18 months to come up with a good plan. The Chiefs did that. The Royals did not."<ref>{{cite web |last1= Seckington |first1=Dillon |last2=Officer |first2=Marcus |title= North Kansas City Royals ballpark negotiations 'a closed chapter': County commissioner |url= https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-lawmakers-royals-reached-out-after-stadium-deadline/69937391 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=January 9, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=9 January 2026}}</ref>

On January 7, 2026, [[Clay County, Missouri]] Commissioner Jason Withington said that he had ended negotiations with the team, referring to it as "a closed chapter." Withington cited a number of reasons, including missed deadlines by the Royals and the business side of baseball.<ref>{{cite web |last1= Godding |first1=Chloe |last2= Holyok |first2=Cody |title= Kansas lawmakers 'moving on' from Royals despite reported post-deadline inquiry |url= https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/nkc-royals-ballpark-negotiations-a-closed-chapter-county-commissioner/amp/ |website=Fox 4 News 9 |date=January 7, 2026 |publisher=fox4KC |access-date=7 January 2026}}</ref>

==See also== *[[New Chiefs Stadium]] – A planned domed stadium for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) to be constructed in [[Kansas City, Kansas]].

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20231130100304/https://kcballparkdistrict.com/ Official site]

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[[Category:Proposed stadiums in the United States]] [[Category:Downtown Kansas City]] [[Category:Hallmark Cards]] [[Category:Kansas City Royals stadiums]] [[Category:Sports venues in Kansas City, Missouri]] [[Category:Baseball venues in Missouri]] [[Category:Sports venues in Missouri]]