In 2022, the Kansas Metropolis Royals proprietor, John Sherman, wrote a letter to followers telling them that he supposed to maneuver the Royals to a brand new ballpark sooner or later. Sherman didn’t give any substantial info on the ballpark plans besides to say that any determination made by the staff will consider residents first and that “transparency” would proceed to be their “guidepost.” The Kansas Metropolis Royals additionally introduced in 2022 that they have been placing collectively an inside examine to discover a new ballpark. Each few months, the Royals promised a solution to the place their new ballpark can be positioned. Each time, the deadline would go with none solutions. At one level, the Royals admitted to looking at 14+ different locations across the metropolis. When the Royals lastly determined, they did so after a months-long delay.
The next yr, 2023, the Kansas Metropolis Royals have been making an attempt to realize public assist for a gross sales tax initiative that might considerably fund their new ballpark. However as 2023 was ending, locals nonetheless had virtually no particulars a few new ballpark. Subsequently, Sherman wrote one other letter to the followers stating that the Royals have been “committed to doing this right” and subsequently can be “more transparent about their plans for a new ballpark.” As you may in all probability guess, the Royals modified nothing and continued to maintain locals at nighttime. Which is loopy contemplating the Royals finally would choose a ballpark location that presently had as many as 12 energetic companies. All of those corporations would have to be moved or closed down. At this level, the Royals known as a press convention the place they informed journalists that discussions with “property owners had already begun” and that the staff simply wished the ballpark to be “done with the community in mind, transparently…(and) good neighbors.” Once more, the Royals have been patting themselves on the again for issues that had not occurred. One enterprise proprietor informed FlatLandKC.org that the Royals by no means opened a “direct dialogue with tenant business owners who would be displaced.” Different enterprise homeowners admitted that they’d requested the Royals questions which have gone “unanswered for months.” When native media started asking questions, the staff recommended that they might assist any enterprise that was being “displaced to find a new home”…however most significantly, the Royals by no means supplied any ensures and even particulars about this.
Consequently, final yr, Jackson County taxpayers rejected the sales tax extension. The Royals (and Chiefs, for that matter) didn’t simply lose, however they misplaced by an enormous margin, 58% to 42%. Perhaps the largest purpose that they misplaced? Voters have been confused. Confused at every little thing. As one Royals blogger put it, “Everything about the Royals’ new stadium plan has been shrouded in secrecy.”
“When Jackson County voters got the selection to subsidize a…baseball stadium in 2024, there appeared to be extra questions than solutions…The leases hadn’t but been negotiated, nor had a group advantages settlement. Extra importantly, there was no clear funding plan for the stadium…And not using a funding plan, Jackson County voters have been being requested to assist pay for a stadium with out understanding how a lot cash the staff was anticipating Missouri or Kansas Metropolis to contribute, or how a lot cash the Royals themselves have been planning to pitch in” – The Beacon News, 2025
Fundamental questions couldn’t be answered; the Royals wished taxpayers to primarily belief them with public cash. Individuals went to the polls and nonetheless weren’t certain the place the brand new ballpark can be constructed. At this time, it’s November 2025 and the Royals proceed to cover their future plans and the place their new ballpark shall be positioned.
Voters have been additionally postpone by the best way the Royals went concerning the Neighborhood Advantages Settlement. In early 2023, the Royals introduced with nice fanfare that they might put ahead a group advantages settlement that was “robust in nature” and would “uplift our community and its needs.” But, no one heard something concerning the CBA till a couple of weeks earlier than the gross sales tax vote in 2024. Even at that time, most group teams had left the negotiations. Because the Kansas Metropolis Star summarized, “the details remain unsettled and tied up in talks,” whereas the general public is “locked in a mystery about the particulars.” Moreover, who will get what on this CBA? When KSHB requested a county legislator who was concerned within the negotiations about this query, the reply given was that it was “too early to say.” Wait, what? THIS WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SALES TAX VOTE. How is it too early to say?
Okay, so the Royals misplaced the vote. Transferring ahead, issues would change. The Royals “promised to learn from the results” and are available again with a greater plan that higher concerned the group. Because the yr 2025 began, The Kansas Metropolis Star editorial board wrote an article that mentioned how the Royals promised higher transparency after the gross sales tax debacle, but there continued to be “little public engagement” due to “months of backroom negotiations.”
This brings us to final week. I noticed a narrative concerning the Kansas Metropolis Royals wanting fan feedback on a survey about potential ballparks. The survey requested questions concerning the ballpark being positioned in downtown, close to downtown, Clay County/North Kansas Metropolis, and Johnson County/Overland Park. The Royals declare that this survey is supposed to “optimize fans experiences” of their new ballpark. No matter meaning. Along with the survey, Sherman launched a press release the place he claimed that the Royals have been “constantly engaging and listening to” their followers. Actually? Perhaps Sherman can reply the fan who informed KSHB that when he obtained the survey from the staff, he merely requested himself, “What exactly is the plan?” No one is aware of. The Royals will proceed to problem statements claiming how a lot they love the group, but, because the Kansas Metropolis Star famous, “there is little evidence (the Royals) have pursued serious stadium dialogues with the people most affected by the issue: the public.”
