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The Kansas City Royals’ plans for a new ballpark site should be set by the end of the regular season.
In an open letter posted on Tuesday, owner John Sherman said the team plans to “share an overview of the [planned] ballpark district” in the next 30 days — including two sites under consideration — with a final site selection in the following weeks.
“This is a huge decision. We’re focused on playing the long game for the region we call home,” Sherman wrote. “In late September, we plan to announce which site will best fulfill our pledge to Kansas City.”
Slightly amending and expanding upon comments made last month, Sherman’s letter references leaving Kauffman Stadium, the Royals’ home since 1973, to build a $2 billion ballpark district somewhat similar to that of the Atlanta Braves.
The Royals’ candidate sites include a downtown location in Jackson County and another in neighboring Clay County. The decision will also have significant ramifications on the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans for Arrowhead Stadium.
On-Field Struggles
The Royals continue to struggle on the field, adding even more urgency to their stadium plans. Just one game ahead of the league-worst Oakland A’s, Kansas City’s farm system is also one of MLB’s poorest, providing even less hope for a turnaround anytime soon.
Fans have noted the lack of progress and have stayed away in droves — the Royals rank 28th in MLB attendance at 16,305 per game.
“I feel that pain alongside our team, our fans, and our community. And I get that it isn’t going to feel better until it gets better,” Sherman wrote.
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