The Kansas City Royals have selected the Crossroads location for its new stadium. Team leaders announced Tuesday as they released new renderings. The Royals’ proposed $2 billion ballpark district is boarded by Grand Boulevard to the west, Locust Street to the east, Truman Road to the north, and 17th Street to the south.
Royals owner, John Sherman, believes that Kansas City is in its golden era. “The arts, the music, food and drink. I believe in my gut that the timing is right. I believe the timing is right for the Royals to become residents of the Crossroads district. We are thrilled to announce our plans to contribute to community dynamics and long-term growth for the Crossroads.”
Royals Ready for a New Home
Their new ballpark location would incorporate the former Kansas City Star Press Pavilion property, along Interstate 670. It appears that the Star building will be demolished to build the stadium. It will be located next to the new South Lopp Link park over I-670 and across from the T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City. The $2 billion ballpark district would include team offices, a conference center, corporate offices, a hotel, and residential and entertainment venue space.
Jackson County voters will decide in an April 2 election whether to issue a new 3/8th-cent sales tax to help finance the ballpark.
A Big Shift from the Last Renderings
A lot has changed since the last time the team shared renderings for a new stadium. Sites in the East Village of downtown Kansas City and North Kansas City were considered the two finalists for the new stadium. However, things changed last fall when the owner of the Kansas City Star Press Pavilion reemerged as a contender. Even the city of Independence made a late pitch a week ago. But, the Kansas City Business Journal reported the Crossroads District became the Royals’ new preferred location in recent months. If voters agree to the sales tax, the Royals want to use that revenue to build the stadium.
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