City of Kansas City, MO
04/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/09/2026 13:58
Potential Downtown Royals Stadium
For immediate release: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Mayor Quinton Lucas has introduced an ordinance directing City Manager Mario Vasquez to negotiate with the Kansas City Royals on a proposed downtown stadium project in and around Washington Square Park and Crown Center. It is cosponsored by Kansas City Councilmembers Wes Rogers, Kevin O'Neill, Andrea Bough, Melissa Robinson, Ryana Parks-Shaw, Darrell Curls, Eric Bunch, Lindsay French, and Crispin Rea.
The ordinance, if approved, would authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a term sheet and to continue work toward a lease and development agreement. It also directs the City Manager to pursue related financing and incentive applications, negotiate necessary cooperative agreements, and conduct public engagement tied to the lease and development agreement.
"This is the work Kansas City needs to do to keep the Royals in Kansas City, and that work is just beginning," said City Manager Mario Vasquez. "The next steps are for us to work closely with the Kansas City Royals and the broader community to ensure the success of this generational opportunity."
The proposed project identified in the ordinance includes a stadium, team offices, and supporting infrastructure in and around Washington Square Park and Crown Center. The ordinance outlines a range of issues to be addressed through negotiation, including project responsibilities, land assembly, financing, design, construction, infrastructure improvements, parking, and community benefits.
The ordinance also directs the City Manager to apply for a Tax Increment Financing plan and to pursue additional state support, including programs available through the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.
To support that work, the ordinance appropriates $250,000 from the Development Services Fund for professional services related to the project. Those services may include legal, financial, engineering, planning, and design support needed to evaluate and negotiate the proposed development.
The ordinance also requires public engagement related to the lease and development agreement, including consultation with existing businesses in the area on issues such as parking, access, and operations.
If the action is approved by the Council does not finalize the full stadium project. While the ordinance authorizes negotiation and execution of a lease and development agreement, any future actions related to zoning, entitlement, Tax Increment Financing approval, or other required legislative approvals would still need to come before the City Council.
The ordinance, if approved, would authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a term sheet and to continue work toward a lease and development agreement. It also directs the City Manager to pursue related financing and incentive applications, negotiate necessary cooperative agreements, and conduct public engagement tied to the lease and development agreement.
"This is the work Kansas City needs to do to keep the Royals in Kansas City, and that work is just beginning," said City Manager Mario Vasquez. "The next steps are for us to work closely with the Kansas City Royals and the broader community to ensure the success of this generational opportunity."
The proposed project identified in the ordinance includes a stadium, team offices, and supporting infrastructure in and around Washington Square Park and Crown Center. The ordinance outlines a range of issues to be addressed through negotiation, including project responsibilities, land assembly, financing, design, construction, infrastructure improvements, parking, and community benefits.
The ordinance also directs the City Manager to apply for a Tax Increment Financing plan and to pursue additional state support, including programs available through the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.
To support that work, the ordinance appropriates $250,000 from the Development Services Fund for professional services related to the project. Those services may include legal, financial, engineering, planning, and design support needed to evaluate and negotiate the proposed development.
The ordinance also requires public engagement related to the lease and development agreement, including consultation with existing businesses in the area on issues such as parking, access, and operations.
If the action is approved by the Council does not finalize the full stadium project. While the ordinance authorizes negotiation and execution of a lease and development agreement, any future actions related to zoning, entitlement, Tax Increment Financing approval, or other required legislative approvals would still need to come before the City Council.
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Media with questions may contact Sherae Honeycutt, Press Secretary of Kansas City, at [email protected].
City of Kansas City, MO published this content on April 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 09, 2026 at 19:58 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]