The Kansas City Royals are looking for as much public input as possible as they prepare plans for a new stadium.
The Royals are embarking on a “Community Listening Tour” to get feedback from the Kansas City community about the team’s proposed $2 billion downtown stadium to replace Kauffman Stadium when its lease expires in 2031. The first town hall meeting will be Dec. 13.
In November, Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman wrote an open letter to the community explaining why the club is exploring the possibility of constructing the new stadium, which will be funded by an undisclosed mix of private and public money.
While many on the internet were receptive to the initial announcement, not all feedback has been positive.
Now, fans and members of the community will have the ability to express their positive or negative sentiments in a public forum.
The Royals’ move downtown would continue a trend of teams heading to urban life after life in the suburbs.
In 2012, the Marlins moved on from their stadium sharing situation with the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, and into their current home two miles from downtown Miami.
In 2020, the Golden State Warriors moved from Oakland to the more bustling metropolis of San Francisco.
