KC group opposing Royals stadium at Crown Center wants to force a public vote
The Missouri Workers Center, a progressive labor advocacy group, says it still wants the public to have a say on whether tax dollars should support the construction of a new Royals stadium.
Shortly after Royals officials on Wednesday announced plans to construct a stadium in Crown Center, the group said in a statement that it is exploring “all legal and political options” to force a vote on whether to allow public financing from Kansas City or Missouri.
“We oppose this project,” The group said, “so long as it depends on public financing that bypasses the democratic process.”
Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman said in a press conference Wednesday that the team is partnering with Hallmark Cards to bring a stadium near downtown. He said the team plans to build a roughly $1.9 billion stadium inside a $3 billion project at the Hallmark Cards headquarters.
Echoing other local advocacy groups that oppose the project, the group said using public funds for a baseball stadium was a waste of taxpayer dollars. The group argued the city and state have more pressing issues that need to be funded, like affordable housing and public transit.
The group also pointed to Jackson County voters rejecting a sales tax in 2024 that would have helped pay for a new Royals stadium in the Crossroads.
“Workers, tenants, business owners, and community members united to send a clear message: if you want our public dollars, you must negotiate in good faith with the people most affected,” the group said.
Kansas City has offered up to $600 million in bonds to support the stadium. City officials have said the debt would be paid off through taxes generated in and around the new stadium.
Meanwhile, Missouri is expected to provide additional funding through the Show Me Sports Investment Act, which can pay for up to half of the total cost of the project. How much is yet to be determined, but Gov. Mike Kehoe has said the total public investment will equal about a third of the project.
City and state officials still need to negotiate with the team over the final details. The City Council will also need to vote to sign off on any agreement with the team.
The Missouri Workers Center said negotiations and a City Council vote could be months away, but that offers time to set up a vote.
“That window must not be used to quietly finalize a deal behind closed doors,” the group said. “It must be used to go to the voters.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 5:09 PM.
