Major Leagues Baseball’s (MLB) Kansas City Royals have chosen their team to build a $3 billion mixed-use development anchored by a world-class new ballpark at Crown Center.
MLB.com said the Royals are combining the best in national experience with unmatched local expertise by partnering with Mortenson and McCownGordon as well as JE Dunn on the project.
The Mortenson | McCownGordon joint venture will serve as Construction Manager at Risk for the 1.25-million-square-foot open-air stadium with approximately 34,000 seats.
JE Dunn will partner in shaping the surrounding live-work-play neighborhood across the broader 85-acre district, the largest sports-anchored downtown development in baseball.
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 Central Division.
The Royals currently play at the 40,793-seat Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (US).
The Royals are pursuing a $1.9 billion stadium that would anchor a $3 billion entertainment district in a transformed Crown Center.
The Royals expect to break ground at Crown Center in 2027 with a target date of opening for the 2030 season, although their lease at Kauffman Stadium, which is part of the Truman Sports Complex, isn’t up until after the 2030 season.
Quinton Lucas, Kansas City Mayor, said, “The Kansas City Royals baseball district at Crown Center will transform not only our community, but also construction design nationally, aligning first-in-class builder expertise with a project that blends urban redevelopment, transit-oriented perspective and a mixed-use district that will be unmatched in quality residential, entertainment, convention and hotel options within feet of home plate.
“As global leaders in their industry with a heavy emphasis on hometown employers, the exceptional design team announced today will create a project built for year-round engagement and activity that will still match the legacy of Kauffman Stadium, Municipal Stadium and the greatest parks and districts in Major League Baseball.”
Solid partnership
The Crown Center project comes through a partnership between the Royals and Hallmark Cards – two of Kansas City’s most iconic and beloved brands – to bring Major League Baseball, a state-of-the-art fan experience, and the largest economic development project in Kansas City history.
Together, this majority privately funded project will bring new investment, thousands of jobs and lifelong memories downtown while securing both the Royals and Hallmark in Crown Center for generations.
Mortenson | McCownGordon brings together two industry leaders with the nation’s most experienced MLB stadium builder with one of Kansas City’s most established construction partners.
Their joint venture partnership is uniquely qualified to construct a ballpark that will proudly serve Kansas City for generations.
JE Dunn is the largest builder in Kansas City and one of the leading builders in the nation. A 102-year-old company founded and headquartered in Kansas City; JE Dunn brings extensive experience delivering complex, large-scale developments that serve communities for generations.
The project represents an opportunity to create a vibrant urban neighborhood that connects sports, entertainment, retail, hospitality, residential and public spaces in the heart of the city.
Brooks Sherman, Royals President of Real Estate and Development, said, “We’re proud to bring these outstanding construction companies together to build a world-class ballpark that will be seamlessly integrated with a best-in-class mixed-use development.
“We have always said this is about more than a ballpark, and this combination of national pedigree with incomparable local expertise will produce the best possible entertainment destination for our hometown.”
Logan Gerken, Mortenson Sports + Entertainment Vice President and General Manager, said, “We’re honored to have the opportunity to help build the new home for the Royals and be part of a transformational project that will have a lasting impact on Kansas City.
“Together with McCownGordon, we bring deep sports construction experience and capacity, forming a partnership with longstanding roots and relationships in this community.
“We are committed to building on our Kansas City experience of T-Mobile Center and Science City at Union Depot, combined with industry-leading performance that’s been proven while building some of the country’s most significant sports venues. Our team will collaborate closely with the Royals and local partners to create a landmark Kansas City can be proud of for generations.”
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