Kansas City Is About to Spend $600 Million to Keep the Royals From Leaving

Kansas City is getting serious about keeping the Royals in Missouri. Mayor Quinton Lucas and nine of the 12 City Council members introduced a proposed ordinance Thursday that would allow the city to issue $600 million in bonds for a brand new downtown stadium. This comes just months after Kansas managed to poach the Chiefs with a massive stadium subsidy of their own, so yeah, the pressure is on.

The Price Tag and the Plan

Here's the math: the new stadium would cost $1.9 billion total. Missouri passed a law last year that covers half of that, about $950 million. If Kansas City issues those $600 million in bonds, the Royals would still need to come up with $350 million in private funds. The proposed new stadium would sit downtown near Union Station and the World War I museum, roughly 6 miles northwest of the current Kauffman Stadium.

Right now, the Royals and Chiefs both play in the Truman Sports Complex in Jackson County. Both teams have called that home since 1973, but their stadium leases expire in 2031. Last April, county voters rejected extending a tax that would have funded renovations for both facilities, which is part of why this conversation is happening now.

Kansas Is Not Interested in a Bidding War

The Royals have also looked at another site about 5 miles north in neighboring North Kansas City, so they have options. But here's the thing: Kansas legislative leaders have already made it clear they're not getting in another bidding war. Back in December, Kansas committed $2.4 billion in bonds to cover 60 percent of a $3 billion domed stadium for the Chiefs in Kansas City, Kansas. Two of Kansas' top legislators, House Speaker Dan Hawkins (a Republican) and Minority Leader Brandon Woodard (a Democrat), issued a joint statement Friday basically saying, "Congrats, Missouri, but we're done." Their message: "We're looking forward to what's ahead."

What Comes Next

The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council could vote on this ordinance as early as Thursday. City Manager Mario Vasquez emphasized that the work to keep the team "is just beginning." The Royals responded with a statement Friday saying they're "grateful for their engagement in this process" and look forward to "more detailed conversations as we consider solutions that are best for our team, our fans, and our community."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.