On the eve of a Royals downtown stadium announcement<\/a>, a top Kansas City elected official has cast doubt on its most fundamental detail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The exact location.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Johnathan Duncan, city councilman for the 6th District, told The Star the stadium footprint \u201cthat will be briefed tomorrow is not Washington Square Park.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The city has notably been referring to the project location as a combination of Washington Square Park and neighboring Crown Center.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the Royals have not publicly unveiled their vision for the area, Duncan\u2019s suggestion would illustrate a remarkable shift in at least the public perception of the stadium plan. The City Council passed an ordinance Thursday authorizing City Manager Mario Vasquez to negotiate with the Royals a stadium deal up to $600 million.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The financial framework has occupied the conversation over the ensuing week, but Duncan said, \u201cthere\u2019s a lack of clarity about the site.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals could provide that clarity during a planned Wednesday morning announcement at a Crown Center restaurant.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asked if he expected the stadium footprint to sit in Crown Center instead of Washington Square Park, Duncan said: \u201cI\u2019m not quite sure exactly where it is.\u201d Duncan said he was briefed about the situation by his \u201ccouncil colleagues,\u201d adding that some council members were aware of the Royals\u2019 plans while others were not.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s not yet clear what details the Royals will share in their announcement, scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, but another council member told The Star he expects \u201cminor\u201d renderings. Those renderings could include more details about the precise location.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n City officials first began touting a Washington Square Park location in 2024, and Vasquez told The Star last summer that his preference for a stadium would be at \u201cthe Washington Square Park site,\u201d adding that underused parking lots in Crown Center could be developed as part of a ballpark entertainment district.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kansas City\u2019s ordinance refers to the team\u2019s proposed stadium location as \u201cthe Washington Square Park\/Crown Center area.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mayor Quinton Lucas told The Star this month the $1.9 billion stadium project also includes the former Blue Cross Blue Shield building, which just the northwest of the park. The Star\u2019s office is located in the Crown Center complex, south of the park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The city\u2019s Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners \u2014 a five-member board appointed by Lucas \u2014 last week unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Vasquez to execute a lease agreement with the Royals to use Washington Square Park, which is owned by the city.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When asked on Tuesday whether the team\u2019s stadium location was settled, Kevin O\u2019Neill, who represents the 1st District, said, \u201cI don\u2019t know that yet, but I know the area has, and it\u2019s that, you know, Crown Center\/Washington Square Park area. So\u2026 not a lot of things change. All the, you know, the financing and everything is going to remain the same.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n O\u2019Neill endorsed the stadium plan as having the potential to be \u201cthe most transformational project\u201d he\u2019d ever seen, but said he could not provide further details. He also said he thinks Royals majority owner John Sherman \u201cloves this more than he\u2019ll\u2026ever admit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sherman is scheduled to speak at the Royals\u2019 announcement on Wednesday, along with Lucas and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. The announcement is expected to center on a new stadium, and an invitation sent to city officials called the event a \u201cBring the Crown Downtown Ballpark Celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The city\u2019s ordinance outline a funding package that includes bonds, city appropriations and Tax Increment Financing (TIF).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Duncan cautioned the announcement would not be the final step, emphasizing again that any development agreement and community benefits agreement would still require final approval from the City Council.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe are moving hyper speed on something we don\u2019t have all the facts on,\u201d Duncan said, \u201cwhich is just dangerous and reckless in my view.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 2:50 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nRelated Stories from Kansas City Star<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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