Kansas City Council Approves $600M Royals Stadium Plan

0:00It's April 17th. This is Kansas News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Kansas City Council just dropped an 11 to 1 to 1 boat, green lighting a plants and negotiate up to $600 million for new royals. Stadium. The spots near Union Station in the Washington Square Park area, part of a $1.9 billion project. This opens the door, but it's early days. No cash committed beyond 250,000 for initial studies. The framework lets the city manager hash out details with the royals, like bonds repaid by future taxes around the stadium. Still, council approvals needed for the lease, development deals, and a tax increment financing plan before any shovels had dirt. Locals push back hard, with dozens speaking out against it in meetings, echoing Jackson County's rejection of a similar sales tax last year. One council member voted no, another sat it out, but most backed it, including one who added oversight language to protect everyday folks from, billionaire subsidies.

1:02State supports the big wildcard, Missouri's Show Me Sports Investment Act could cover up to half, but lawmakers haven't locked in an amount yet. The city's eyeing 50 million in state tax credits, too, while planning to own the stadium and lease it to the royals for 30 years. Construction could take 4 years, lining up before the current Kaufman lease ends in 2031. Now it's on the royals and Missouri to step up, and seal the deal.