Kansas City City Council Approves $600 Million Commitment for New Royals Stadium
The Kansas City Royals’ quest to move to a new downtown ballpark cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday when the Kansas City city council approved a $600 million commitment to help make it happen.
The club announced in April that it planned to partner with Hallmark Cards on a $3 billion project to create a mixed-use development, with the new stadium as the centerpiece.
Key Points:
- The city council’s decision sets the framework for financing the city’s share of the investment.
- The city could create a tax increment finance district to redirect tax revenue back into redevelopment.
- The Royals have pledged to cover $760 million of the estimated costs, with the city and state aiming to secure an additional $540 million.
- Groundbreaking for the $1.9 billion stadium is targeted for 2027, potentially for the 2030 baseball season.
As part of the agreement, the Royals will sign a 30-year lease and donate over $50 million to community groups and local initiatives.
Hallmark plans to build a new headquarters in the area, with the T-Mobile Center serving as the Power & Light District’s anchor.
This move brings the Royals one step closer to staying in Kansas City, countering the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans to build a new $3 billion stadium across the river in Kansas City, Kansas, set to open in 2031.
