The Kansas City Royals have plans to construct a brand new stadium facility in downtown Kansas City, replacing one of the oldest stadiums in Major League Baseball. Kauffman Stadium, which opened over 50 years ago in 1973, is in dire need of updates and renovations as it is considered outdated. Royals owner John Sherman stated that a new stadium will ensure the team’s sustainability in Kansas City. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a major-league presence in the second-smallest city with both an NFL franchise and a Major League Baseball club. The team has unveiled renderings of a state-of-the-art ballpark that incorporates water features reminiscent of those associated with Kauffman Stadium.
The new stadium is expected to be completed in 2028 and will be connected to the nearby T-Mobile Center. It will have a reduced capacity of approximately 34,000 seats, which is around 3,000 fewer seats than Kauffman Stadium. Both the Royals and Chiefs had expressed frustrations with the city in the past and even considered exploring other locations for their stadiums.
However, the architectural firm leading the project believes that this is the ideal site at the right time. Earl Santee, the founder of architectural firm Populous, emphasized their long-standing awareness of this site and their extensive experience with major league ballpark projects. Santee stated that the timing aligns perfectly for this particular location.
The construction of the new stadium will involve a combination of public funding and over $1 billion in private financing committed by the Royals. While the majority of reactions to the plans have been positive, some fans have expressed disappointment over the absence of a crown-themed scoreboard, a notable feature of the current stadium. Additionally, the team will need to negotiate buyouts with existing property owners. Despite these details, it is an exciting development for Kansas City baseball fans.
According to the Source outkick.com