What is East Village in Kansas City? What we know about potential Royals stadium site
While the Kansas City Royals have not yet secured public backing for a new stadium, the team has narrowed the choice down to two potential sites — one near downtown Kansas City, and one in North Kansas City.
According to the team’s president of business operations Brooks Sherman, the downtown location is in an area called East Village.
Sources have previously told The Star that East Village has been a top location from the start.
WHERE IS EAST VILLAGE?
East Village is a neighborhood in downtown Kansas City. It’s located northeast of City Hall and is home to the J.E. Dunn Construction headquarters. The construction company is also a part of the Royals’ ownership group.
West of East Village are the federal and county courthouses, the Richard Bolling Federal Building, police headquarters, municipal court and the Jackson County Detention Center. On its eastern border are interstates 70 and 35. Eighth Street is to the north and 12th Street is to the south.
“We believe that the East Village is where they are focused on and have been focused on,” a Jackson County official who asked not to be identified told The Star in March. “That being said, we have no agreement on that site.”
WHAT’S THERE NOW?
A lot of parking lots surround East Village. There’s also a Commerce Bank, but other than that, it’s pretty empty.
In January, Kansas City issued demolition permits for several buildings in the East Village, potentially clearing space for a new stadium.
The city also helped a single developer, VanTrust Real Estate, assemble multiple blocks of land in the East Village area for the purpose of a new stadium and a proposed surrounding ballpark district. That includes transferring city-owned property and making the police headquarters annex available.
“If I really had to make a bet and say to everybody today where that new stadium is being proposed, I am going with the East Village,” Chris Stritzel said to The Star in January. He’s a developer who noticed the demolition of the Wiltshire building while walking around the area in January.
Take a look at this interactive 360 view of the possible stadium location in East Village.
The Royals haven’t announced their choice yet and are still in talks with local leaders for both the East Village site in Jackson County and the potential North Kansas City location in Clay County. The team said it hopes to make a call by the end of the summer.
Without an official plan, voters don’t yet have an option to weigh in, but in the past Kansas Citians have often voted yes on stadium and arena projects.
The Star’s Blair Kerkhoff, Kevin Hardy, Eric Adler, Mike Hendricks, Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell contributed reporting.
