KSHB 41 reporter Tod Palmer covers sports business and eastern Jackson County, including Independence. Share your story idea with Tod. KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.
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Kansas City Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas will gather for a news conference Wednesday for an "important update on the future of the Royals in Kansas City."
The news conference is set for 10 a.m. at The American restaurant in Crown Center.
The announcement comes on the heels of the KCMO City Council passing a financing framework to contribute up to $600 million in funding for a $1.9 billion baseball stadium district centered around Washington Square Park/Crown Center.
Most of the discussion regarding the site has been focused on Washington Square Park and the former Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City headquarters, but multiple sources said it will instead be a nearby site that doesn't include the park.
KSHB 41 News reporter Tod Palmer learned Tuesday that Wednesday's stadium announcement will likely focus on an area around Crown Center, leaving the park and insurance giant's former headquarters untouched.
Mayor Lucas confirmed his attendance Tuesday afternoon and provided the following statement.
"I am proud of the steps we have taken to build a strong future for Royals baseball in downtown Kansas City," Lucas said. "I am excited to share and learn more tomorrow about development, job creation, and community benefits for our entire city and region."
Nicholas Grunauer, owner of Grunauer Restaurant and president of the Crossroads Community Association, told KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan he’s heard speculation about the stadium site possibly changing from Washington Square Park.
So long as a stadium doesn’t displace business owners, Grunauer’s supportive of building it downtown.
“It’s the place where I think baseball should be and will be most effective for economic development and growth of the region,” Grunauer said. "It’s important it’s somewhere in our urban core.”
Inside Crown Center, Katie Mabry van Dieren, owner of Shop Local KC, is cautiously optimistic. She’s worried about a years-long construction period, but she likes the idea of downtown baseball.
“This is a big deal,” she said. “Our store, if it was open, we could probably throw a rock there. I think it’s great.”
Missouri Speaker of the House Jon Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) believes the state could contribute up to $900 million for the project through the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.
He said he expects the team to chip in and predicts any final plan will involve compromise.
“Then what you have is a true partnership with the ownership, the city, the state, and something where not everybody got what they wanted, but it's fair to the city, the state and the taxpayers,” Patterson said.
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