Royals Announce New Ballpark in "The Heart of Downtown KC"

[Couch-Potato]

What do you guys think about the new ballpark?

ESPN:

Spoiler!

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."

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Mecca

KC is a bizarre place, it's like people would be happy if downtown wasn't there and it was just nothing but suburbs.

I get a kick out of people saying downtown is a shithole and that nobody wants to go down there yet downtown rent is much, much higher than anywhere else.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

A little over a month til the vote & theres still no rendering from the Chiefs. MODOT still hasn't approved the cap for that side of the highway either.

It would be pretty stupid to vote for this as it's rushed and not clearly planned out.

lol of course Nubian Nut downvotes it. That guy sucks the government teet

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Shiver Me Timbers

I don't think so. He purchased the team for nostalgia. Him and his wife had their first date at a Royals game.

100% about flipping it. Every single interview about the new stadium he mentions making it a better club for the next owner.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I get a kick out of people saying downtown is a shithole and that nobody wants to go down there yet downtown rent is much, much higher than anywhere else.

Yeah, I live and work downtown. In my opinion, downtown is so nice and has so many amazing restaurants and lounges. Yeah, there’s a few crazies around the bus stops, but I never feel unsafe. I absolutely love living down here and can’t wait for the new stadium.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by penguinz

100% about flipping it. Every single interview about the new stadium he mentions making it a better club for the next owner.

Yeah it's a group of businessmen. Sherman is just the face of it. None of them are uber wealthy. They are super rich, but they aren't like Mark Cuban rich. Their entire goal is to make as much money possible from the team. If I were in their shoes I'd do the exact same thing. But I'm not. I'm a fan. So I will bitch and moan at any unrighteousness.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Yeah it's a group of businessmen. Sherman is just the face of it. None of them are uber wealthy. They are super rich, but they aren't like Mark Cuban rich. Their entire goal is to make as much money possible from the team. If I were in their shoes I'd do the exact same thing. But I'm not. I'm a fan. So I will bitch and moan at any unrighteousness.

Everyone knows you wanted out with the Village Idiots or Shawwwwwwwwwwww Kneeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Eleazar]

Speaking of parking and downtown stadiums - parking in the KC Current's gravel parking lot is apparently being billed to season ticket holders at $68 per game.

KC Current fans upset over parking costs at new stadium


'People are freaking out': KC Current fans upset over parking costs at new stadium


Some of Kansas City's soccer fans are concerned after the KC Current announced that it would begin charging season ticket holders for parking this season.

Many fans were left feeling upset after discovering that taxes and fees would result in a cost of nearly $1,000.

After taxes and fees, parking is $68 a game. With 13 regular home games and one tournament game, that adds up to $952.

The parking lots outside the CPKC stadium, where the team plays, are still being built, and are made out of gravel.

Fans say that they are frustrated that there are no payment options and that all the money is due now.

"With the exception of gold parking at a Chiefs game, that will be the most expensive place in the entire city to park any day of the week," said Cherie Gallagher, a fan. "People are frustrated because they feel like you're not getting the option to park somewhere else or other cost options."

The city has permitted 2,300 spaces for parking while the stadium has 11,500 seats, leaving many fans to carpool, rideshare, or get creative.

Season ticket holders have the first chance to buy the spots, but the KC Current says that season ticket holders outnumber the available spaces.

The closest KC Streetcar stop is over a mile away.

Fans are still trying to figure out what to do, with some even posting their tickets up for sale online.

"A lot of people are freaking out quite honestly," said Trina Hawkins, president of the Blue Crew fan club. "People are just stunned and figuring out what to do now. I've already seen people put their tickets up for sale online."

The Current provided this statement to KMBC:

"We have the most passionate fans in the entire NWSL. We are excited to give our Season Ticket Members the first opportunity to purchase limited parking passes available for the new downtown stadium.

We will offer very limited pre-paid single match on-site parking to Current Club members and the rest of our fans at a later date. We are thrilled to offer other solutions that align with our focus on multi-modal and sustainability for off-site parking and transportation, including park-and-ride options, ride-share, streetcar, bus, bike and shuttle services.

Our Season Ticket Members now know that they have the option to purchase season long parking passes. There will also be options for those who need ADA accessible parking, both on-site and off-site. More information about our off-site parking and transportation opportunities will be available in the coming weeks."



https://www.kmbc.com/article/homage-...ction/46907467

[Pablo]

You just Uber or walk right to the stadium. It’s so simple

Hop on the street car

[Titty Meat]

lol


https://www.kctv5.com/2024/02/23/sur...-stadium-site/

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Speaking of parking and downtown stadiums - parking in the KC Current's gravel parking lot is apparently being billed to season ticket holders at $68 per game.

I can't imagine paying that.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Speaking of parking and downtown stadiums - parking in the KC Current's gravel parking lot is apparently being billed to season ticket holders at $68 per game.

$68 parking. In the gravel. With the smell of the MO river in the air. To watch women's soccer.

good luck with that...

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by Eleazar

Speaking of parking and downtown stadiums - parking in the KC Current's gravel parking lot is apparently being billed to season ticket holders at $68 per game.

Wut?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Fish

$68 parking. In the gravel. With the smell of the MO river in the air. To watch women's soccer.

good luck with that...

Lots of bundle of stickss in KCMO who like that shit

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Lots of bundle of stickss in KCMO who like that shit

I rode the street car once. It was in winter and it was half full of homeless going from midtown to River market and back to stay out of the cold I’d imagine. Had a younger dude with military ptsd trying to tell a few of us his life story while his buddy was knocked out drunk next to him.

I’m guessing this is what happens a lot when it’s freezing or hot as hell out. Maybe they’ll start charging for it and that will change

Mecca would have shed a tear for the dude and gave him 20 bucks I’m sure

[dlphg9]

There is no way this doesn't pass. It's no extra money, so all that's happening is instead of paying for the upkeep of a stadium in Raytown you're paying for a brand new ballpark in down town KC and getting all kinds of new businesses along with it. Don't really see the down side, besides I guess some people might have to walk a little further.