Royals Selects Crossroads District as Location for New Planned Ballpark

Posted February 14, 2024

The Kansas City Royals officially announced the location of its new stadium and sports entertainment district will be set in the East Crossroads District downtown.

Royals officials and Kansas City leaders held a press conference Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. inside the Kauffman Stadium.

“Today we are at a crossroads, in fact, we are here to talk about the crossroads and our intention to make it the new home of the Kansas City Royals,” Royals owner John Sherman said.

The new location will encompass 17.3 acres of land stretching from Grand Boulevard to Locust Street and from Truman Road to 17th Street. The development would also connect the South Loop and Power and Light. The new stadium would seat about 34,000 fans as compared to Kauffman which can seat nearly 38,000.

In January, Jackson County legislators voted to override County Executive Frank White’s veto of the 3/8th-cent stadium sales tax question for the April 2 ballot. Funds accumulated from the sales tax would go toward the Royals’ new stadium.

The current sales tax has been in effect since 2006, set to expire in 2031, and has the same tax rate. The current sales tax would be repealed if county voters pass the question in April and replace the existing tax for the next 40 years.

“We are not asking for a new tax,” Royals president of business operations Brooks Sherman said. “Rather a continuation of the existing tax 3/8th-cent sales tax that exists today and extend it for 40 years, supporting both clubs.”

Last week, the Royals began a campaign committee to raise awareness of the April ballot question, donating $500,000 to the campaign.

Renovations to keep the Kauffman stadium in operation would not be “realistic,” moving forward, founder and CEO of Populous Earl Santee said. The new Crossroads site was selected for its range of broad community effects that Kauffman could not provide.

“Looking ahead, connecting great neighborhoods in Kansas City is what’s really important,” Santee said.

Placing the new stadium in the Crossroads would allow for 22 entry and exit ways into the ballpark as opposed to Kauffman’s seven. Out of all the sites under consideration, this site allowed for the least major highway improvements in addition to access to more parking options for fans within a ten-minute walk, Santee said.

Royals officials said conversations have started with property owners in the areas and will be handled on an individual basis for each property and business owner.