Royals Ditch Kauffman Stadium for Downtown Ballpark

0:00The Kansas City Royals just dropped big news, their ditching Kaufman Stadium for a shiny new spot downtown in the Crown Center area, teaming up with hallmark cards on a $3 billion mixed-use project with a $1.9 billion ballpark right at the center. Groundbreaking hits next year on this 85-acre development, funded two-thirds private and one-third public. Earlier this week, Royals owner John Sherman announced it alongside Hallmark's chairman, Missouri's governor, and Kansas City's mayor. Hallmark's building a new headquarters there, too, linked by streetcar to the power and light district and T-Mobile Center. Officials love the existing parking and easy highway access. Fans and locals have mixed feelings after years of drama. The Royals have pushed for a downtown vibe since Sherman bought the team in 2019, with their lease ending in 2031. A failed sales tax boat in Jackson County last April, killed a joint-cheese Royals plan at the old complex. Meanwhile, the cheese bolted to Kansas for their own stadium deal, while Royals passed

1:02on sites in Overland Park and Clay County. They're modeling it after Atlanta's truest park, a public-private win, with mixed-use perks. This move promises a state-of-the-art ballpark in the city's heart, boosting jobs and energy across Missouri without touching current programs. Royals fans get ready for that urban upgrade. This has been Durham News Today, powered by AI.