KC Royals announce Crown Center stadium move: Your news recap
The Kansas City Royals on Wednesday announced plans to build a new baseball stadium at Crown Center in partnership with Hallmark Cards.
Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman unveiled the roughly $1.9 billion stadium — part of a $3 billion mixed-use development — alongside Mayor Quinton Lucas and Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe during a press conference at The American restaurant at Crown Center. The announcement ends the team’s half-decade search for a new home.
Here is a recap of The Kansas City Star’s coverage.
Royals announce stadium move to Crown Center
The Royals announced in a press release Wednesday morning their intentions to move to Crown Center, a sprawling, 85-acre mixed-use shopping district near downtown Kansas City as part of a joint partnership with Hallmark Cards.
The stadium footprint is not expected to sit in Washington Square Park, a shift from what many expected.
“Our founder Ewing Kauffman wanted the Royals to be Kansas City’s forever, and he wanted the team to benefit his hometown as much as possible,” Sherman said.
The move is not expected to require a public vote, instead relying on local and state administrative tools. Council member Johnathan Duncan has vowed to hold the Royals to a standard of transparency.
Sherman said construction could begin in 2027.
Crown Center stadium renderings released
The Royals shared initial concept renderings of the new ballpark, including fountains and the crown video board — two features Sherman has said he wants in the new stadium.
The renderings are not final and are expected to be updated by the Kansas City architectural firm Populous. The team said the ballpark “would push from the bottom into the top 10 in walkability among Major League Baseball teams.”
Maps and renderings show Hallmark’s headquarters and part of its visitor center would be removed to make way for the stadium, while the Ice Terrace and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish would remain.
“We just told our employees that the Hallmark building will be coming down, and we’ve got to now go to work and try to figure out where we will stay,” Hall Jr. told reporters.
It remains unclear what would happen to Crown Center amenities like Kaleidoscope, Sealife aquarium and Legoland.
Washington Square Park would be included in the stadium district in some capacity. The site would be accessible via U.S. 71, I-35 and I-70, along with streetcar service along Main Street.
‘Going to see change’: Neighbors & tenants react
Residents and businesses near Crown Center expressed a mix of hope and concern about the stadium:
- Longfellow Community Association president Robb Traylor said, “Street parking is somewhat of a premium.”
- Union Hill resident Seth Kohlstaedt said he was “pumped” to walk to games.
- North Hyde Park resident Cesar Beltran said, “I’m not happy about it going there.”
The century-old Catholic church Our Lady of Sorrows sits just southeast of home plate in the new renderings.
Bishop James Johnston said the diocese “learned most of the details along with the rest of the community” and was not involved in planning before the announcement. The diocese said it views the stadium as “primarily an enhancement that could attract new people to worship and experience the beauty of our Catholic faith.”
Crown Center president Stacey Paine sent a letter reassuring tenants, saying the complex will conduct “comprehensive planning” through 2026 and into 2027 but there would be no immediate disruption.
“Crown Center and the people that you are used to dealing with are still here,” Paine wrote. Hallmark Cards will relocate its headquarters to a new location within Crown Center.
Who owns Hallmark?
The family behind one of the biggest greeting card companies in the country is helping bring the Kansas City Royals closer to downtown.
Don Hall Jr., executive chairman of Hallmark’s board, is the grandson of company founder Joyce C. Hall, who came to Kansas City in 1910 with a shoebox full of cards and a rented YMCA room.
The Hall Family’s net worth was listed at $2.8 billion in 2015 by Forbes. Hallmark had $3.5 billion in revenue for 2025, and the Hall Family Foundation had over $47 million in charitable disbursements in 2024.
Opposition group wants public vote
The Missouri Workers Center said it is exploring “all legal and political options” to force a public vote on whether to allow public financing for the stadium.
“We oppose this project,” the group said, “so long as it depends on public financing that bypasses the democratic process.” The progressive labor advocacy group argued the city and state should have more pressing priorities, like affordable housing and public transit.
Key questions remain unanswered
Despite the celebration, key questions remain unanswered about how much Missouri will contribute, who will own the stadium and when it might open.
“We are so far away from a done deal,” council member Duncan said. Council member Wes Rogers was more optimistic, calling Crown Center “an even better site than it already was.”
Gov. Kehoe was noncommittal about Missouri’s exact financial contribution, saying public funding would make up about one-third of overall costs.
Sherman said the team plans to put $800 million toward the $1.9 billion stadium. Kansas City has authorized up to $600 million in bonds and tax increment financing. Missouri faces a projected $2 billion general revenue shortfall in fiscal year 2027.
Jackson County officials have been largely silent on the stadium move.
Interim County Executive Phil LeVota said he’s “proud” the Royals will remain in the county, calling it “a big win for our community.” He declined to say whether the county will contribute financially.
The county recently launched a 15-member task force to plan the redevelopment of the Truman Sports Complex.
What do Royals players think?
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.”
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.”
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.
What do Royals fans think?
Fans weighed in on social media with mixed reactions. Some praised the proximity to the streetcar line and Union Station. Others raised concerns about parking, traffic and the team’s on-field product.
The Royals said the development would create “more than 20,000 jobs in the construction phase alone” and the expected private investment of $2 billion or more “would be the largest in Kansas City history.”
Across the state line, Kansas residents expressed mixed emotions. Some were relieved Kansas taxpayers won’t foot the bill.
Overland Park resident Joe Davidson, who organized opposition to a previously considered Aspiria site, called Crown Center “a great location.” KCK resident Tasjha Dixon said, “It sounds like it’s going to create a traffic nightmare, I would imagine.” Aaron Reid praised the decision to keep baseball close to downtown.
Star columnist’s take on stadium news
In a special edition of the SportsBeat KC podcast, columnist Vahe Gregorian shared his thoughts on whether Sherman got it right with Crown Center.
The podcast also discusses how much KC will miss the Chiefs and Royals as next-door neighbors at the Truman Sports Complex, with the Chiefs headed to a site in Wyandotte County.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
