KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mayor Quinton Lucas says efforts continue behind the scenes to keep the Kansas City Royals in Missouri.
Lucas met with reporters Monday afternoon before attending a meeting to discuss incentives aimed at keeping businesses on the Missouri side. A week ago, Kansas State leaders announced that the Kansas City Chiefs would be heading to Wyandotte County in 2031.
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The Royals appear not to have asked the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council to extend its self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline to reach a deal involving the stadium STAR bond.
Union Station lights up blue over the weekend and again Monday in support of the Royals’ downtown ballpark. Lucas said this shows support is growing for a downtown stadium.
Last April, voters did not support extending the sales tax for the Royals and Chiefs because it would have meant a new ballpark at the intersection would displace some businesses. The Royals’ proposal to build an Overland Park stadium at 119th and Nall Streets has similarly faced opposition from neighbors concerned about increased traffic.
This weekend, when Union Station next to the proposed Washington Square Park site turned blue for the Royals, they got one of the biggest endorsements yet from a potential neighbor.
“I think it’s obvious to us that when you talk to big businesses, major institutions like Union Station and other institutions that are willing to talk openly about this, there’s excitement in downtown Kansas City and they know this could mean a lot,” Lucas said.
union station post Saturday detailed the history of downtown baseball and said
“Downtown ballparks offer something special – an exciting atmosphere that brings friends, family and fans together to share joyful moments. It strengthens community, celebrates teamwork and reminds us of the simple beauty of our game. It’s time to welcome downtown baseball home.”
Mayor Lucas said the site was operating normally and there was still room for ancillary development.
“You have a footprint that’s already tied to recreational tourism and concentrated nearby with tens of thousands of parking spaces.”
After the Chiefs’ loss to Kansas State, he met with Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and interim county executive Phil Levota to try his best as the Royals still may consider Clay County, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas.
“With the Royals, we continue to have the same dynamic discussions around some things. Obviously, money, finances, public support is a big part of it. But fortunately for the Royals, that’s really the change that downtown baseball can make,” Lucas said.
The mayor said he didn’t feel any pressure to make a hasty or possibly worse deal for residents to keep the Royals after the Chiefs’ loss to Kansas State. While he said he will continue to operate on the team’s schedule, he said he hopes an agreement can be reached during spring training.
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