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It’s the announcement Kansas Citians have been waiting for for years.On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals announced that, in partnership with Hallmark Cards, a new downtown Royals baseball stadium is coming to Kansas City, and not just to downtown Kansas City, but to an already iconic location.Specifically, the team said the development will be built on an 85-acre development surrounding a park-like central square with fountains.A note from the team’s news release calls this the “Royals stadium at Crown Center.”“Our founder Ewing Kauffman wanted the Royals to be Kansas City’s forever, and he wanted the team to benefit his hometown as much as possible,” Royals CEO and Chairman John Sherman said. “Joining Hallmark with this project achieves both and extends the Hall family’s critical legacy of helping Kansas City grow.”Officials said the plan includes a world-class ballpark, surrounding mixed-use development and “reimagined headquarters” for both the Royals and Hallmark at Crown Center.“When the new Royals stadium opens at Crown Center, something proud will come full circle,” said Don Hall Jr., Hallmark Cards’ executive chairman of the board of directors. “The iconic Royals crown that Hallmark created will return to the very neighborhood where it was conceived. Every time a fan walks through the stadium doors, they’ll be standing in a place shaped by Kansas City and Hallmark’s creative spirit.”Sources tell KMBC 9 News that the deal has been in the works for months and came together last week. The team said that Sherman and Hall have known each other and worked together for decades and that the trust and mutual respect shared between them were “critical in creating a possibility that nobody would have imagined even a year ago.”The new stadium and complex will be built on what is currently the Hallmark corporate office headquarters.That headquarters sits where Pershing Road Meets Gillham Road at East 25th Street.Hall said the new stadium will take advantage of the existing Crown Center infrastructure, and will merge the city’s Washington Square Park into plans for the complex. “…building onto the original vision for Crown Center,” Hall said during Wednesday’s news conference. “The ballpark will feel like part of the community,” Hall said.”We’re proud to bring our crown right back to the place it was created,” Sherman said of the partnership with Hallmark.Royals, officials discuss stadium funding: In a news release Wednesday, the team said that the expected private investment of $2 billion or more would be the largest in Kansas City history.The project is expected to be funded primarily by the Royals and other private investors and supplemented by funding from the city of Kansas City and Missouri’s Show-Me Sports Investment Act.“Today’s announcement reinforces that the state of Missouri is not just where the Kansas City Royals play but where they belong,” said Gov. Mike Kehoe. “This decision by the Royals to invest in our state is more than just a commitment to Kansas City; it is a commitment to communities and fans across Missouri. I appreciate the partnership of the Royals organization, Hallmark, and state and local leaders in working together to make this project a reality.”The project, the team said, would bring 20,000 jobs in the construction phase alone.The release also says the development will enhance previous Kansas City investments, including the Streetcar, and optimize “ample parking” within a 10-minute walk.”Royals baseball would push from the bottom into the top 10 in walkability among Major League Baseball teams, lowering the cost and growing the accessibility for Kansas Citians to enjoy and connect with their team,” the release states.Earlier this month, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a now-passed ordinance paving the way to fund the city portion of the project.“For over 50 years, Crown Center and the Kansas City Royals have created memories that last a lifetime for the people of our region,” said Lucas. “The public-private partnership between Hallmark, the Royals, Kansas City and our state ensures we connect our neighborhoods, keeps our downtown vibrant and maintains big league baseball in our city for generations to come. I look forward to decades of new, treasured experiences, thousands of jobs, vibrant small business growth and millions of visitors building the beating heart of our region — our downtown — while cheering on our Royals. Play ball!” In a news conference Wednesday morning, John Sherman said to great applause, “The Kansas City Royals are staying in the state of Missouri.” Sherman went on to thank local leaders saying, “and the Kansas City Royals are staying in Kansas City, Missouri.” Groundbreaking for the project is expected in 2027.
It’s the announcement Kansas Citians have been waiting for for years.
On Wednesday, the Kansas City Royals announced that, in partnership with Hallmark Cards, a new downtown Royals baseball stadium is coming to Kansas City, and not just to downtown Kansas City, but to an already iconic location.
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Specifically, the team said the development will be built on an 85-acre development surrounding a park-like central square with fountains.
A note from the team’s news release calls this the “Royals stadium at Crown Center.”
“Our founder Ewing Kauffman wanted the Royals to be Kansas City’s forever, and he wanted the team to benefit his hometown as much as possible,” Royals CEO and Chairman John Sherman said. “Joining Hallmark with this project achieves both and extends the Hall family’s critical legacy of helping Kansas City grow.”
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Officials said the plan includes a world-class ballpark, surrounding mixed-use development and “reimagined headquarters” for both the Royals and Hallmark at Crown Center.
“When the new Royals stadium opens at Crown Center, something proud will come full circle,” said Don Hall Jr., Hallmark Cards’ executive chairman of the board of directors.
“The iconic Royals crown that Hallmark created will return to the very neighborhood where it was conceived. Every time a fan walks through the stadium doors, they’ll be standing in a place shaped by Kansas City and Hallmark’s creative spirit.”
Sources tell KMBC 9 News that the deal has been in the works for months and came together last week.
The team said that Sherman and Hall have known each other and worked together for decades and that the trust and mutual respect shared between them were “critical in creating a possibility that nobody would have imagined even a year ago.”
The new stadium and complex will be built on what is currently the Hallmark corporate office headquarters.
That headquarters sits where Pershing Road Meets Gillham Road at East 25th Street.
Hall said the new stadium will take advantage of the existing Crown Center infrastructure, and will merge the city’s Washington Square Park into plans for the complex.
“…building onto the original vision for Crown Center,” Hall said during Wednesday’s news conference.
“The ballpark will feel like part of the community,” Hall said.
“We’re proud to bring our crown right back to the place it was created,” Sherman said of the partnership with Hallmark.
Royals, officials discuss stadium funding:
In a news release Wednesday, the team said that the expected private investment of $2 billion or more would be the largest in Kansas City history.
The project is expected to be funded primarily by the Royals and other private investors and supplemented by funding from the city of Kansas City and Missouri’s Show-Me Sports Investment Act.
“Today’s announcement reinforces that the state of Missouri is not just where the Kansas City Royals play but where they belong,” said Gov. Mike Kehoe. “This decision by the Royals to invest in our state is more than just a commitment to Kansas City; it is a commitment to communities and fans across Missouri. I appreciate the partnership of the Royals organization, Hallmark, and state and local leaders in working together to make this project a reality.”
The project, the team said, would bring 20,000 jobs in the construction phase alone.
The release also says the development will enhance previous Kansas City investments, including the Streetcar, and optimize “ample parking” within a 10-minute walk.
“Royals baseball would push from the bottom into the top 10 in walkability among Major League Baseball teams, lowering the cost and growing the accessibility for Kansas Citians to enjoy and connect with their team,” the release states.
Earlier this month, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a now-passed ordinance paving the way to fund the city portion of the project.
“For over 50 years, Crown Center and the Kansas City Royals have created memories that last a lifetime for the people of our region,” said Lucas. “The public-private partnership between Hallmark, the Royals, Kansas City and our state ensures we connect our neighborhoods, keeps our downtown vibrant and maintains big league baseball in our city for generations to come. I look forward to decades of new, treasured experiences, thousands of jobs, vibrant small business growth and millions of visitors building the beating heart of our region — our downtown — while cheering on our Royals. Play ball!”
In a news conference Wednesday morning, John Sherman said to great applause, “The Kansas City Royals are staying in the state of Missouri.”
Sherman went on to thank local leaders saying, “and the Kansas City Royals are staying in Kansas City, Missouri.”
Groundbreaking for the project is expected in 2027.
