The decision of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs to leave Arrowhead Stadium and the Truman Sports Complex for a new Kansas stadium means the MLB’s Kansas City Royals need to consider their options for a new ballpark.
Ballpark Digest said that the Chiefs’ plan to move to a new Kansas-side stadium by 2031 has heightened urgency for the Royals to decide their long-term home, since both teams currently share the Truman Sports Complex.
And the Royals’ search for a new home continues to evolve as they prepare for Kauffman Stadium’s lease expiration in 2031.
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri (US). The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The 37,903-capacity Kauffman Stadium serves as their home venue.
Owner John Sherman and the organization remain publicly committed to keeping the team in the Kansas City area, but no final site has been chosen yet.
Sherman recently reiterated the decision is pending and that the club is “still evaluating options” across jurisdictions as it seeks the right public-private partnership and long-term vision.
There is renewed interest in reconsidering the East Village area of downtown Kansas City as a stadium location, with city leadership indicating there is no governmental barrier to reopening that possibility, though real estate negotiations are essential.
Meanwhile, public opinion and local politics continue to shape the debate. Leawood area leadership has voiced opposition to siting the stadium in Johnson County, reflecting growing resistance among some suburban leaders to a ballpark on that side of the city.
The team has been looking at potential ballpark sites including Washington Square Park, near Union Depot; a North Kansas City location in Clay County; and an Overland Park, Kansas site in Johnson County, and polled fans as to their preferences regarding location.
While Kansas City officials and local businesses are pushing the Washington Square Park site, it is challenging: the park and an adjoining parcel comprises some 11+ acres of land, which is enough for a ballpark but would not present the development opportunities Sherman has identified as part of a ballpark complex.
In North Kansas City, officials describe discussions with the Royals as “substantial,” pointing to serious talks over a potential stadium there.
While the Royals remain focused on building a new ballpark — likely ready before the 2031 deadline — the location and final funding structure are still in flux, shaped by negotiations with city/county governments, fan and community input, and competing proposals across the broader metro area.
However, a new Kansas City Royals ballpark in Jackson County is still a possibility, as officials there continue to discuss potential Kansas City sites with team officials.
A team affiliate owns the Aspiria Campus in Overland Park, Kansas (the former Sprint headquarters), and part of that site could be used for a ballpark and mixed-use development.
With Kansas devoting billions to the richest public stadium-funding deal in U.S. history for the Chiefs—some $2.4 billion in bonds—there’s a question as to what kind of public money would be available for a Royals development as well.
Ballpark Digest further stated that right now, no one with the team or Kansas is talking, and with the public rejecting a Jackson County sales tax this year, Kansas City officials say they’re not eager to schedule a public referendum on a new Royals ballpark.
Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.
Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.