Kansas City Royals ball park options diminishing after ‘bidding competition’ warning
The Kansas City Royals are under increasing pressure to make a decision on a new ballpark.
But, this has been made somewhat easier as two strong options are now officially off the table.
It is no secret that the MLB franchise are looking to leave their current home of Kauffman Stadium when their lease expires after the 2030 season.
Having been engaged in talks with the Royals for a span stretching close to three years, officials in Clay County, Missouri announced on Wednesday, via Front Office Sports, that they will no longer “engage in a bidding competition with other jurisdictions.”
This comes as the MLB side failed to provide a finalized proposal ahead of the Jan. 8. deadline that would have gone to voters in a ballot in April.
“The Royals elected not to accept the county’s proposal within that timeframe,” the seven-member Clay County Commission said in a statement.
“As a result, no proposal will be presented to the public for a vote.”
Furthermore, Kansas City also had an option to follow in the footsteps of the NFL team Kansas City Chiefs and move across state lines, though to the suburban area of Overland Park, Kansas.
But the team has recently abandoned plans for a new ballpark and mixed-use development following a decision made by Kansas officials not to continue talks with the club at the end of 2025 after missing Dec. 31 deadline.
The purchased mortgage for the land in Overland Park in Johnson County has reportedly been held by a Royals affiliate.
“As stated when the Aspiria mortgage was acquired, the investment was made to maintain the site as an option for a new Kansas City Royals stadium,” a Royals spokesperson said in an emailed statement, via KCUR.
“After significant evaluation, we do not believe this site meets our criteria for a stadium.”
“We continue to evaluate opportunities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to create a world-class ballpark district.
“As always, we hear and appreciate the input of our fans throughout the region.
“We remain hard at work toward the best solution for our team, fans, partners, and community.”
Royals still looking to follow Chiefs out of Missouri
The Chiefs announced their plans to move away from the iconic Arrowhead Stadium in favor of building a brand new $4 billion domed arena that they hope is worthy enough to host a Super Bowl at the end of 2025.
Initially, back in 2021, Royals owner John Sherman publicized that he wanted to build a downtown ballpark and remain in Missouri.
He had identified the eight-block East Village as an early preferred site in Kansas City and Jackson County.
However, these plans were scuppered in April 2024 when voters denied the proposal of an extension of an existing sales tax that contributes to the upkeep of Kauffman Stadium, which would have also served as some funding for any new MLB stadium.
As a result, other potential sites for a new ballpark emerged, with Union Station even making a pitch as they sought a return of downtown baseball.
These plans could yet be revisited, per Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas.
When asked if anything would ‘preclude’ the team from revisiting the East Village, Lucas said on Jan. 5 2026: “There is not from a Kansas City government perspective. There is not from any factor that we would look to.
“Obviously, there are real estate realities. There are different owners in that area, and there are conversations necessarily that would need to happen with them.
“But from the viewpoint of local government, there’s no material impediment that we would impose as to any site in Kansas City proper.
“My view would be ultimately that that would be something for the team to evaluate. We’d be happy to stand with them and work with them as we look to come to whatever solutions.”
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