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Historic MLB Team May Not Move After All Following Massive Incentive Deal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric W. Bolin | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 1:22 PM ET

The future of the Kansas City Royals in one of the bigger metro areas in the Midwest has been up in the air for several months, if not years. The question hasn't been whether the Royals would leave the greater Kansas City area, but where exactly in the area the team would play.

On Thursday, the Missouri Senate took a step toward keeping the franchise in the Show-Me State, hoping to avoid a potential move into the state of Kansas. For reference, the city of Kansas City exists in both states, though the population of the city on the Missouri side is about 2 1/2 times what it is on the Kansas side.

The Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium in the eastern part of Jackson County, Missouri, since 1973. The area, though, is not near the heart of the city, where some movers and shakers would prefer.

But the citizens of Jackson County last year turned out a sales-tax extension that would have saw those funds go toward the buidling of a new baseball stadium in downtown Kansas City.

The Missouri Senate, eager to at least keep the Royals in the state and not lose them to Kansas, where state lawmakers have authorized bonds for as much as 70% of the cost of new stadiums built in the state, passed a counter-propsal.

The Senate passed a propsal that would authorize up to 50% of a stadium projects costs while also providing as much as $50 million in tax credits.

The Royals face a deadline to make a decision on their future by the end of June.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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