Recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. may impact Chiefs, Royals stadium futures<\/a><\/p>\nKansas extended its deadline until June 30, 2026, last summer, with the stadium futures still unsettled.<\/p>\n
But other than occasional statements of appreciation, including when the Missouri Legislature passed its own tax-redirect tool during a special session last June, the Royals have kept relatively quiet in the 18 months since.<\/p>\n
The team has been responding to most media inquiries about the club\u2019s future home with some variation about how the team is \u201cexploring all options.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been an unsatisfying drumbeat for fans, especially since Sherman promised in November 2022 that \u201ctransparency\u201d would be the Royals\u2019 \u201cguidepost\u201d in the stadium-selection process.<\/p>\n
\u201cNah, I haven\u2019t heard that much from John as far as what he\u2019s put out,\u201d Kyle Vassar, a Royals fan I spoke with Thursday morning at Union Station, said. \u201cHe kind of just sprung the survey on us.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Royals fans seem happy to offer their opinion, it\u2019s the team they want to hear from.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it was just a little bit of information, the community would be like, \u2018Hey, you know, I appreciate that you are open communicating with us and so that we’re in the loop,\u2019\u201d Deron Binkley, a fan from Independence, said.<\/p>\n
The Royals, as they have for months, declined an interview request for this story.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a little bored of it, honestly,\u201d Flood said of the stadium conversation. \u201cI\u2019m tired of hearing about it on the radio every single morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three years, it turns out, has tested fan patience.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething’s got to give,\u201d Heather Winship said after voting Tuesday at Glendale Elementary School in Independence. \u201cWe need to make a decision on where we’re going to place it. Or, I’d rather, what can we do to keep it where it is?\u201d<\/p>\n
Plenty of Royals fans would prefer to renovate Kauffman again and keep the current stadium, which opened in April 1973.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a community member, I love Kauffman,\u201d Karly King, a teacher in Independence, said. \u201cI love the ease of parking. I love the ease of getting out. I love the history and the community sense that Kauffman provides. I think it’s a great stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s the one fan opinion \u2014 staying at Kauffman Stadium that the Royals have scratched from the list of options.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis agenda was from day one, he’s moving the royals, and that’s a shame \u2014 in my eyes,\u201d Independence resident and Royals fan Shawn Malles said.<\/p>\n
Sherman repeatedly has said the future of the team\u2019s stadium is a generational decision \u2014 and he\u2019s right.<\/p>\n
The Royals believe Kauffman Stadium limits the team\u2019s potential to drive revenue and compete, now and in the future \u2014 and that\u2019s also true.<\/p>\n
After more than half a century, any and every attempt to enhance the area around the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex, making it a viable destination for anyone other than tailgaters on game days \u2014 and, importantly, on non-game days \u2014 has failed.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also true that Sherman will be long gone by the time the team\u2019s next lease is up, so any attempt to classify the Royals\u2019 course of action as a cynical money grab by an out-of-touch billionaire misunderstands who Sherman is, his love for Kansas City and his goal in securing the team\u2019s future in the Kansas City region.<\/p>\n
But all fans really want to know is: When will we know where the Royals will play after the 2030 season?<\/p>\n
\u201cSome clarity would be nice,\u201d Vassar said.<\/p>\n
But in some sense, it doesn\u2019t really matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to go to the games no matter what, so it doesn\u2019t really matter to me where the stadium is,\u201d Flood said.<\/p>\n
The Royals declined to provide a full list of questions when I reached out. The team also said it does not plan to release the survey results publicly.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n