New Kansas City Royals stadium moves ahead, passes City Council

The Kansas City Council ushered along the developing plan to build a new Royals baseball stadium at Crown Center in an 11-2 vote Thursday.

The council’s finance committee voted unanimously in favor of the multi-billion-dollar plan Tuesday, which outlines a “state-of-the-art downtown stadium” set to open April 2030.

The approved framework authorizes a 30-year lease with the Royals, and states Kansas City will receive 5% net profits from all non-baseball events. The city will commit $600 million to the project, which totals $1.9 billion.

The majority of the council leans in favor of the plan, arguing the deal would bring millions of visitors to Kansas City and would supply tens of thousands of jobs, both of which could boost the city.

“Each generation has the chance to leave its mark through projects that improve the communities it serves,” The Builders AGC President Lance Claiborne wrote in his public testimony. “We believe this stadium can be one of those projects, delivering lasting value and benefits for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

Despite the potential benefits, the proposal has sparked significant backlash from the public. Large groups of residents have gathered at various council meetings to express their desire for the plan to be brought to a public vote.

At Tuesday’s finance committee meeting, Darrell Miller – who works at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals’ current home – was arrested for disrupting the meeting and resisting arrest.

After the city council’s vote in favor of the framework Thursday, meeting attendees shouted their disappointment at the council members.

“This is an embarrassment,” one yelled.

“Shame on you,” cried another.

“Let us vote,” pled a third.

Because the plan doesn’t create any new taxes, a public vote isn’t required.

Councilmen Nathan Willett and Jonathan Duncan were the lone votes against the plan at the council meeting. Duncan clarified he’s in favor of the stadium and its location downtown, but the deal’s details – especially the finances – need some editing.

“Right now, the city is taking all the risk,” he said at the meeting. “We are giving away our leverage by agreeing to this deal. …

“We only get one time to do this right. This is not just a deal for us, this is not just a deal for our children; it’s a deal for our grandchildren.”

“Five percent of non-baseball revenue is a pittance compared to what the Royals stand to receive on this,” Duncan argued. “I feel like we’ve handled the Royals with kid gloves, they are getting everything in this deal. We are getting very little. …

“We should demand better. Our city deserves better. Our residents deserve better.”

Thursday’s vote moved the project out of the city legislative process and allows the city manager to execute the necessary agreements involved in the process, which include the lease agreement, funding agreement, community impact partnership agreement and the development agreement.

The current funding agreement outlines how the project would be funded without solidifying specific details, which will be finalized before going back to the council for another vote.

“The actual funding mechanism will be coming back to this body with respect to the TIF financing,” Councilwoman Andrea Bough explained, referencing the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) expected to be used to fund the project. “These agreements lay out what is to be developed. … So, this is just a step in the process of how we agree to the development and the financing.”

The TIF Commission is expected to release more financial information regarding the agreement Friday. The city council is also set to vote on the deal’s zoning plan Sept. 3.

Aside from the dissenting council members and agitated crowd at the council meeting, several others celebrated the passing vote.

“To me, this is a really exciting day,” Councilman Wes Rogers said. “In fact, I think we’ll look back on this in our city’s history as one of the best days in decades.”

“A lot of good work got accomplished today, and there’s still a lot of work to do,” City Manager Mario Vasquez said in a statement. “I’m thankful for the City Council’s trust that enables us to deliver a win for all of Kansas City. We all know that Kansas City is the heart of the region and the region deserves a strong heart.”

(Photo credit: Screenshot/Royals presentation to finance committee)