Jun 19, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Memorabilia from the Negro Leagues and a tribute to Willie Mays seen at the museum before the East-West Classic at Rickwood Field. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

The Negro League Baseball Museum’s Planned $35 Million Expansion

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Calvin Shaw | Last updated Feb 26, 2026 9:40 PM ET

Negro League Baseball helped to popularize the sport into America’s pastime, and that is no different in the state of Missouri. First announced in 2023 by the Negro League Baseball Museum, or NLBM for short, there were plans for an expansion, with details being revealed as donations began to flood in for this paramount project.

During the middle of this year’s Black History Month, it was announced that the NLBM will have a $35 million expansion with plans of reconnecting the museum to link with the Paseo YMCA, which is the location where the NLBM was founded by Andrew “Rube” Foster in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 13^th, 1920!

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New Additions To The Museum

Negro League Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick announced that the expansion is happening to create additional exhibition space to enhance the fans’ experience while bringing attention to more players who helped evolve the sport to what we have grown to love!

Other key additions will be a new parking garage and gift shops, which are a popular addition as NLBM merchandise is a hot seller amongst baseball fans who love to wear throwbacks and pay homage to the past by wearing a Kansas City Monarchs or Baltimore Black Sox jersey, which you can purchase at their Negro Leagues Baseball Museum website. There will also be a hotel built, named The Pennant, to house traveling fans who want to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime museum and will garner the attention of international fans who will enjoy their time in Kansas City, let alone experiencing what the NLBM will provide.

The largest expansion will be the new 30,000+ square foot building, which will be named the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center, and will be located where the former Paseo YMCA once stood, which closed in the 1970s. Reviving that legacy and rightfully linking it to the NLBM is justified and a full circle moment that encapsulates the importance of this league and maintaining its history.

End Of My Negro League Museum Expansion Rant

This expansion will bring new life and energy to this respected museum! The Negro Leagues played a large role in the popularity of baseball, and I am excited to see the conclusion of this project in 2028. With MLB as a development partner, it shows that history is important and will not only be restored but also revived with major developments like this. We will continue to see not only for America’s pastime but for all sports worldwide.

You can visit the NLBM at 1616 East 18th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. You can also visit the website at https://www.nlbm.com/ to revisit the history of this league!