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Now that the Chiefs are officially headed to neighboring Kansas for a new, domed stadium, the spotlight shines brighter on MLB’s Royals, who are also seeking a new facility.
The Royals have been on a parallel path as their current Truman Sports Complex neighbor in pursuit of a new ballpark to succeed Kauffman Stadium, and are aiming to close their own facility deal. Since a stinging April 2024 defeat at the ballot box on a joint measure with the Chiefs for stadium funding, the Royals have conducted their own search, apart from the NFL team.
Overall, the Royals’ stadium site pursuit has been operating in fits and starts for more than three years, with neighborhood opposition to some potential locations near downtown Kansas City particularly slowing the club’s progress. Similar to the Chiefs, the Royals’ current stadium lease expires after the 2030 season.
“On behalf of the Kansas City Royals, I want to wish the Hunt family and the entire Chiefs organization all the best on this important day,” club owner John Sherman said in a statement after the Chiefs’ decision. “Though a few more miles may separate us in the future, let’s continue our work as we build a world-class championship sports legacy for the Kansas City region.”
Local Politics
The key question is whether Missouri legislators, stinging from the loss of the Chiefs in 2031, can coalesce around completing a baseball deal. Kansas presented a strongly united front in its pursuit of the Chiefs, helping finalize the deal for a $3 billion stadium and a team headquarters and practice facility set to cost more than $1 billion.
Missouri, conversely, has shown a more varying level of engagement and strategy in the stadium discussions between state, county, and city officials. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement Monday that “our unified, hardworking, and exceptional team will continue our strong efforts as we work to retain the Kansas City Royals in a transformational downtown facility.”
The bond measure being used for the Chiefs could be applied to the Royals, and there have been some discussions between Kansas and the baseball team. In fact, some recent discussion has hovered around a parcel in Overland Park, Kan., with the mortgage on that land already owned by a Royals affiliate.
Missouri, however, is well aware of that.
“The Royals are also a great legacy team that we would love to keep in Missouri,” said Gov. Mike Kehoe. “We will do everything we can to continue those conversations.”
Like most every team now in professional sports, including the Chiefs, the Royals intend to complement a new stadium with a large-scale, mixed-use development—similar to what the Braves have notably built with The Battery.
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