KANSAS CITY,Mo. —Kansas City’s Council is furthering its efforts to keep the Royals in Kansas City for the long term.
On Thursday, Mayor Quinton Lucas and a majority of the city council introduced legislation that would build a new “Downtown Baseball District” for the Royals, worth $1.9 billion, located around Washington Square Park and Crown Center that includes a new stadium for the team.
The proposed legislation would include a $600 million commitment from the city through bonding and would keep the team in Kansas City for another 30 years starting in 2031.
“The new Royals Downtown Stadium is not just a stadium development. When completed, it will be the largest single economic development project in the history of Downtown Kansas City,” Lucas said in a statement. “The project, with a current estimated investment of $1.9 billion into our city’s workers, our businesses, and our Downtown, will deliver tens of thousands of guests to Downtown Kansas City 81 additional nights per year, and will have more than 300 days per year of year-round engagement, tourist activity, and conference, concert, and special event activation.”
The city says the ordinance will be up for review by the Finance Committee next Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and says the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners also will review authorizing legislation.
A decision by the Royals has taken longer than expected, though owner John Sherman said last week prior to the team’s home opener against the Twins the organization still has some cushion.
Sherman fetched questions on the progress of the looming decision and said the team has explored stadium locations in Clay County, downtown Kansas City and even across the border to the state of Kansas. And while the cushion for a decision remains, Sherman said last Monday the team is “making progress” and that he is “as anxious as anybody” to get the decision behind them.
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