[KC Royals Announcement] Kansas City Royals New Stadium Moving Downtown
Our KC Royals have plans to relocate to a new stadium in the heart of Kansas City.
In 2030, the Royals’ lease at Kauffman Stadium will end, and the team will be moving to a new home in, or at least near, downtown KC. It’s possible the Kansas City Royal’s new stadium move could transpire even sooner.
The Kansas City Royals have called Kauffman Stadium their home since 1973, and they’ll continue to do so for now. But, the Royals’ ownership has announced official plans for a new park in a very different location. The decision has garnered lots of praise from some fans, but some locals are upset, to say the least.
This announcement is just the beginning of the process, so many of the plans are yet to be revealed. We’ll all wait in suspense as it unfolds.
Royals owner John Sherman unveiled plans to construct a new stadium in or “close to” downtown Kansas City in a letter to fans on Tuesday. The ballpark would then be surrounded by what was termed a “ballpark district.”
One of the most compelling parts of the letter to fans was the explanation of the repairs needed and the cost comparison of repairs vs. a move:
“As you may already know, it’s become challenging to maintain The K. When its current lease with Jackson County concludes at the end of this decade, it will be 60 years old. The renovations required at The K to achieve our objectives would cost as much or more than the price tag to develop a new ballpark. A new home would be a far better investment, both for local taxpayer dollars already supporting our facility, and for the Kansas City community.”
They have “several leading locations under close consideration.” while not having settled on a precise location yet.
We’re thinking there aren’t a ton of possibilities that would provide enough land and meet the needs of the necessary traffic. But having a sparkling new home for our Blue Crew does sound appealing.
The Royals want to debut their new stadium in the 2030s, if not before, according to a graphic provided by the team.
The only four stadiums older than Kauffman Stadium will be Fenway Park (Red Sox, 1912), Wrigley Field (Cubs, 1914), Dodger Stadium (1962), and Angel Stadium after the A’s either obtain a new ballpark in Oakland or move to a new city (1966).
It seems that even though the Royals’ contract for Kauffman Stadium expires in 2030, they are not required to remain there up until that time. If the stars align, and the new ballpark’s planning and subsequent construction go more quickly than expected, many are reporting that there is some flexibility about when they depart; it could happen early.
Here is an excerpt of the letter that describes the goal of their move and the creation of the ballpark district:
- Our vision is to not just build a facility that does justice to the spirit of The K. We want to construct a world-class experience – a new ballpark district and all that comes with it – one that is woven into the fabric of our city, can host events and concerts, and boosts our local economy. We also envision incorporating our Kansas City fountains, the Royals’ crown and our team’s rich traditions and history in a new ballpark district.
- The proposed ballpark district would become a new home for Royals fans far and wide – both inside a state-of-the-art ballpark and in the revitalized surrounding area. We will marry the traditions of The K with a better experience for our fans.
If you want more scoop on their announcement, the expected financing, job forecasts, and more, the entire letter is available here.
Obviously, it’ll take some time to coordinate, and ultimately it has to go to a public vote of approval before it can even be a realistic plan. So it’s safe to bet that the details will change at least a few times over the next handful of years.
But ultimately, the Royals want to relocate to a new home in the heart of our city. And they’re shooting for some time in the next decade. Fingers crossed that the parking and the bathroom situation decisions are at the top of the priority list for the planners!
