Complaints about a lack of parking at a downtown Royals stadium need to stop
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mayor Quinton Lucas says 19,000 parking spaces lie within a 10-minute walk of the site
- Fans likely won't be alone and cites nearby restaurants and police presence.
- The article cites the streetcar and Plaza parking garages as viable options for fans.
The ‘P’ word popped up again Thursday following the announcement that some Kansas City officials back a plan to build a new Royals stadium at Washington Square Park.
Parking.
It’s ever-present on the mind of some fans. They grouse about the cost to park at the Truman Sports Complex, but then fret about the perceived lack of parking spots in downtown Kansas City if a new ballpark is built there.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told The Star there are 19,000 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk of the proposed ballpark site.
I’m unsure how to confirm that number, but Drew Bradshaw of Shawnee was skeptical and voiced concerns that multiple people shared on social media.
“The Mayor now says there are 3,000 more spaces than he had previously stated as being 16,000,” Bradshaw wrote in an email to The Star. “He further stated that the parking spaces would be just a 10-minute walk to the proposed site. Let’s review that statement. Wonder when was the last time the Mayor walked from downtown KC to the proposed site alone, especially at night?
“The Mayor is proposing that thousands of attendees would need to walk exposed through the streets of KC during days and nights, exposing them to the criminal elements that KC presents, as it is among the top 10 most dangerous cities in the U.S. for violent crime. Please tell me how this makes sense.”
Let me take a crack at explaining why it’s going to be fine.
From a safety standpoint, those fans won’t be there alone. You can debate whether it’s safe to walk by yourself in the Union Station area at 10 p.m. these days, but there will be between 15,000 and 35,000 fans in that area on a given game night.
The detractors also seem to forget that not only a stadium will be coming if the Royals decide that’s their preferred location and the city can come through with its part of the funding. The ballpark would be the centerpiece of a baseball district with bars and restaurants, so that area will be brimming with people.
And there would be a police presence when the Royals play, if for no other reason than to help with traffic after a game.
As for the parking question, some may wonder how fans could find those open parking spots the mayor mentioned on game day. One would hope the Royals and the city would follow the lead of the city of Pittsburgh and the Pirates, who have a downtown stadium. Fans can use a nifty app and website that show where parking spots are available.
But the biggest reason for optimism is the streetcar. It now runs from the River Market to UMKC, so fans could park away from Washington Square Park and then ride the streetcar to the game. There are multiple parking garages in the Plaza alone, so that is a viable option.
I was in Chicago last year when the Royals played the Cubs, and the “L” was packed with fans going to games. Part of the fun of attending a sporting event can be taking mass transit with other fans. And, yes, there were kids on those trains.
It’s far too early for specifics about the entertainment district around a ballpark at Washington Square Park, but we can all agree a parking garage would be great. Or maybe one can be built somewhere on the streetcar line.
If the ballpark is built at Washington Square Park, the Royals would join the Guardians, Twins, Tigers, Cardinals, Pirates, Giants, Orioles, Reds, Padres and Rockies with downtown stadiums.
My longtime friend Kevin Wiegand, who lives in Denver, shared his experiences about attending a Rockies game.
“Parking can sometimes be an issue, but fans make it work,” Wiegand said. “Would a free parking garage be great? Of course. But the ballpark really helped transform downtown Denver.
“And there are really no muggings or pickpockets. The biggest issue is running into drunk fans.”
The Rockies’ website notes that fans can use the light rail or bus routes to get to the Coors Field. As mentioned, that would be the case here, too.
Will there be ample parking adjacent to a new stadium like we find outside Kauffman Stadium? No, but it won’t be as cumbersome or dangerous getting to a downtown ballpark as some seem to fear.
The doomsday predictions are overblown, in my opinion, so please stop with the complaints about a lack of parking at a potential downtown Royals stadium.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 10:09 AM.
