What Royals players (and manager Matt Quatraro) said about new stadium in Crown Center
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals unveiled a Crown Center stadium plan with Hallmark, aiming for Opening Day 2030.
- Manager Matt Quatraro praised the location and front office effort behind the stadium plan
- The 2026 Royals have lost nine of their last 10 and are trying to climb out of last place.
Wednesday marked an exciting day for the Kansas City Royals organization.
After years of tumultuous planning, the baseball club is set to build a new stadium at Crown Center in a partnership with Hallmark. Royals owner John Sherman and elected officials unveiled the plan Wednesday in a glossy presentation inside The American Restaurant in Crown Center.
The hope is for the Royals to start there on Opening Day in 2030. About eight miles east of their future home, the 2026 Royals are looking to fight their way out of last place in the American League early in the season at Kauffman Stadium.
The news of the new stadium has seeped down to coaches and players, who may or may not be in it when it opens. Manager Matt Quatraro is in favor of the upgrade.
“It seems like an incredible location and a nice piece of land,” Quatraro said before Wednesday’s game. “A huge boost to the ability to walk (to) the games. The views are going to be incredible. Obviously, those renderings are always amazing when you see them and how great they look. And it’s really exciting.
“I see how much work has gone into it from the front office perspective. With Mr. (John) Sherman and Brooks (Sherman, no relation) and everybody that’s involved in it, and it takes a lot, right? ... I’m happy for them that this has come to fruition, and it seems like a really good solution.”
Kansas City metro natives Noah Cameron and Carter Jensen both have childhood memories of coming to Kauffman Stadium to watch games. They both said they’re embracing the new stadium, while holding onto their childhood nostalgia for The K.
“It’s beautiful. I mean, it’s home for me,” Park Hill alum Jensen said before the game. “I have a special place for it in my heart. In my opinion, it’s my favorite ballpark in the league, just because of the special ties I have with it.”
St. Joseph native Cameron remembers watching legendary Royals pitcher Zack Greinke during his first game as a toddler.
“Bittersweet, moving the stadium. ... This is obviously all I know, but ... we’re excited,” the left-handed pitcher said. “I think (Kauffman Stadium is) gonna be number one in my heart ... until we get the new one, obviously, see how that goes.”
The Royals have been working to get out of a losing rut in the 2026 season. They’ve lost nine of 10 overall, including an 8-6 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday. Jensen hit a solo home run in that game; he leads the team with six this year.
The second-year player is more worried about getting his team some wins than his personal stats, he said afterward.
“It’s a dream come true every day (playing for the hometown Royals). I think that’s why it’s so disappointing right now,” Jensen said. “I watched this 2014, 2015 team win, and I think that’s the most disappointing part for me. Disappointed in myself. I’m not disappointed in any of the guys, everybody’s trying. I just want to make that clear. It means a lot to me, and I think that’s why ... I take it so hard.”
