Fans see positives and negatives in Royals’ new ballpark at Crown Center
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Signs point to an announcement Wednesday about a stadium at Crown Center.
- Fans expressed mixed views on Crown Center site, citing parking and traffic concerns.
- Some fans said Crown Center’s hotel and streetcar access make the location attractive.
The Royals on Wednesday morning announced their next stadium will be built at Crown Center.
“A world-class ballpark, surrounding mixed-use development and reimagined headquarters for both iconic institutions at Crown Center would create more than 20,000 jobs in the construction phase alone,” the Royals said in a news release. “The 85-acre development surrounding a park-like central square with fountains has little if any precedent worldwide for a professional sports project, and the expected private investment of $2 billion or more would be the largest in Kansas City history.”
Fans had been discussing the possibility of a new Royals stadium at Crown Center before details were shared. I asked fans what they thought of a ballpark at that location. Here is what they were saying.
“As long as the iconic ice terrace is included with rebuild I’m fine with this decision,” a fan wrote on X.
“Depends on where in Crown Center,” wrote X user Jonathan Kinder. “Don’t take out the mall and hotels but the business offices are fair game in my opinion.”
X user Matt Newbold wrote: “If I were the @Royals, I would just sit tight on this stadium stuff. It’s already a disaster of a PR campaign, so to add anymore fuel to the current dumpster fire with the product on the field is just PR suicide.”
“If that’s the case,” a fan wrote, “the Power & Light district will be out of business by 2035.”
X user Eric Pederson wrote: “First of all, they don’t need a new stadium. Second, the infrastructure (traffic flow, parking, etc.) is not good in that area or anywhere else near downtown.”
“Whatever keeps em out of nashvilles grips,” wrote X user Bryce Kingsolver.
X user Greg Smith shared this: “Definitely good with location. Like that it’s on the street car route.”
“Used to work in that area,” noted Greg Winans on X. “They need more than the park space to get a stadium and other businesses that they’ve been talking about. Contrary to city leader’s reports, parking is an issue to many.”
A fan wrote: “It depends on how it ends up looking since I’m assuming it’s going to end up repurposed/integrated as the district but being moved catty corner/across the street from the original site isn’t a big issue. As long as it stays in that downtown area, it’s a win for me.”
Another had this request: “The Western Auto sign with downtown in the background is what was going to make the view iconic. It would be our Roberto Clemente bridge like you see in Pittsburgh. Or our Citgo sign in Boston.”
“I won’t lie, Crown Center has a special place in my heart,” a fan wrote. “It’s nice to walk around (particularly appreciate the connection to Union Station). And when conventions or conferences come to town, the Westin and Sheraton are well-located for foot traffic...
“However, I wish the shopping and entertainment was more popular outside of Holidays. And I don’t think there would be a huge loss letting some of the corporate offices go. I’m excited about a new stadium in the heart of the city!”
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 8:30 AM.
