Progress on a new Crown Center Royals ballpark continues, as the Kansas City Council’s Finance Committee approved a development and financing framework that includes $600 million in city funding.
The plan, as approved today, calls for the new $1.9 million ballpark to open in 2030, replacing Kauffman Stadium as the team’s home and becoming the third ballpark in Royals history. The team would sign a 30-year lease, with five options for two-year extensions. The city’s commitment would be capped at $600 million: $90 million in infrastructure spending and $510 million in city-backed bonds. The Royals would spend at least $760 million and cover cost overruns, with the remaining funding coming from a variety of sources, including state money and tax-increment financing. MLB must also sign off on the financing and development plan.
“Three months ago, the Council directed my team to work with the Royals to come up with the framework to build a stadium in Crown Center and keep Hallmark’s headquarters in Kansas City,” said City Manager Mario Vasquez in a press statement. “I am proud of City staff’s skills, expertise, and professionalism. We’ve managed to bring Kansas City a strong, well thought-out proposal that will serve generations of Kansas City residents. Our elected officials on the City Council will make their decision later this week, and in the meantime we’re very proud of the work that we accomplished to get here today.”
The next step is consideration by the full City Council, tentatively scheduled for this Thursday (August 20), with potential passage on Sept. 3.
The Royals and ballpark architect Populous released two new renderings of the project. Yes, the iconic fountains of Kauffman Stadium would be present at the new ballpark, as well as a new crown-topped scoreboard.
The $1.9-million ballpark would anchor a more extensive $3-billion mixed-use development. In late April the Royals, the city and Crown Center officials announced preliminary plans for a new downtown ballpark at the existing 85-acre development located on the southern side of downtown Kansas City. It was developed by Hallmark Cards and will feature the company’s new headquarters (the current headquarters will move to accommodate the projected ballpark location), as well as theaters, hotels and attractions like Union Station, the Museum of BBQ, a Legoland outpost and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The site also features plenty of freeway access and is connected by streetcar to the Power & Light District and T-Mobile Center. Interestingly, much of Crown Center dates back to the 1969-1973 period—as does Kauffman Stadium—and has landed the complex on the National Register of Historic Places.
Renderings courtesy Kansas City Royals.
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