Downtown Baseball Stadium

[earthling]

With MLB more lenient on baseball gambling (MGM Grand is now an MLB partner), they may not have an issue with a stadium in that space with hotel/gambling facing the field (similar to Toronto stadium/hotel). If Isle isn't interested, when is their lease up?

East Village could work too but the loop needs more residential/office, not what is essentially occasionally used massive event space.

[FangKC]

The Dream of a Major League Ballpark Coming Back Downtown Reemerges

https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators ... reemerges/

[rokhok]

I think another issue with having the ballpark on the northside of DT would be the ideal orientation of the field: East North East. If you put a field on the River, North Loop, or even East Village.. you will be sacrificing any view of the CBD. While that may not be the most important factor.. I think the aesthetics of having a DT view should be a consideration. Ideally that would mean placing a ballpark West South West of DT but there isn't a suitable plot that I am aware of.

For that reason.. I believe the optimal plot is bound by Oak, 19th and Holmes and backed up against the train tracks. Here are the pluses:

* Only 4 blocks from the StreetCar.. very walkable
* North / South Highway access (US 71) aprox 4 blocks
* East / West Hightway (670) 6 blocks (via Grand)
* The fact that 71 and 670 dont directly connect could actually turn into a good thing from a traffic flow standpoint
* eastcrossroads entertainment venues already established directly north
* space to the west to develop a "Royals Village" - could be a joint dev with the Royals to help pay for the stadium
* Crown Center hotels within walking distance
* fills in CC to east crossroads nicely
* 11 blocks to Negro Leagues Museum and 18th Vine ... could spur development along 18th and 19th between crossroads and jazz district.
* AND could align the field such that its lines would have a partial to full view of DT.

[rokhok]

Shoot.. I forgot to add 2 more:

* the land is mostly surface parking now so no major demo issues
* backing up against the tracks *could* make it easier in the future to add a commuter rail station directly under the stadium.....

[zonk]

Good comments, but isn't this where the milhaus project is currently under construction?

[flyingember]

Good comments, but isn't this where the milhaus project is currently under construction?

Artistry is 19th to 20th, Oak to Cherry.

That site is gone for good, the angle of the tracks makes what's left way too small.

[zonk]

That's what I thought, thx!

[FangKC]

Keep in mind that any site that seems available now can be be gone in a moment. Van Trust is not going to sit on land for 10 years waiting for a lease to expire. If they can develop those parcels sooner with something that will make money, they will.

We shouldn't want any part of downtown to wait until 2030 to be developed. We should take what we should get now whether it be in the East Village, Crossroads, or riverfront.

[flyingember]

Keep in mind that any site that seems available now can be be gone in a moment. Van Trust is not going to sit on land for 10 years waiting for a lease to expire. If they can develop those parcels sooner with something that will make money, they will.

We shouldn't want any part of downtown to wait until 2030 to be developed. We should take what we should get now whether it be in the East Village, Crossroads, or riverfront.

Remember, the convention hotel took ten years from the process starting through to the announcement and it took five years to opening after that. Land owners aren't waiting on development, the team already started the process unless they're eminently stupid, and there's zero chance of that.

Their lease ends in 2031
It will take 3-5 years to build it from initial design work through to completion. So practical work needs to be underway by 2027
It will take 3 couple years to get a deal with the city on incentive with all the legal fights. So city negotiations need to start in 2024
It will take a couple years to make all the land deals on their chosen site. So work needs to start by 2022
The team needs a couple years to look at all the possible sites. So work needs to start in 2020.
They will need a couple years to start the process and have meetings with surrounding towns on possibilities so work needs to start in 2018.

No one is waiting until 2030 and no one with any large piece of land that remotely works for a stadium isn't involved in the process already looking at making more money by selling to the team, because single large sites will come at a premium. If the royals get interested in a site with existing uses land owners will demand a premium to sell so there's benefits for the east village to wait a couple years for a decision

[beautyfromashes]

Yes, but one building in the way won’t stop the building of a stadium either. If they want the Oak and 19th spot, they’ll tear down an apartment complex, even if it was built just a few years earlier. If they really want North Loop, Flashcube will go, even though it’s being redone.

[earthling]

Isle of Capri has talked about a replacement, which could make a great spot for stadium/hotel/casino but Isle might want to replace well before stadium construction would actually start. (Yes, I'm continuously building a case for this area).

Hate to mention this but even though the new owner *appears* committed to KC, KC is for most part fair weather sports fans that ride along with Royals performance. If Royals have 5-10 more bad years while Nashville/Portland/etc are aching for a team, the owner may make a business choice.

[flyingember]

Yes, but one building in the way won’t stop the building of a stadium either. If they want the Oak and 19th spot, they’ll tear down an apartment complex, even if it was built just a few years earlier. If they really want North Loop, Flashcube will go, even though it’s being redone.

"they" would require the city or county to take the property by eminent domain.

It would be VERY expensive to buy out a brand new apartment complex with decades of rent coming.

[flyingember]

Isle of Capri has talked about a replacement, which could make a great spot for stadium/hotel/casino but Isle might want to replace well before stadium construction would actually start. (Yes, I'm continuously building a case for this area).

Don't count on this site. It's 21 acres, the current stadium is on 18 acres and could go as small as 15. there's a power plant to the east and railroad tracks to the south. they're pinned in without space for even team and vip parking

Especially don't expect a Casino and Hotel too with that much space.

[aknowledgeableperson]

I don't buy this. I think the consensus is that there will be a city funded stadium that will be surrounded by surface parking with no clear future development.

If someone wants to change that, I believe they know how to reach everyone. I could see this site getting between a few different sites.

Hasn't the new mayor put a damper on that source of funding?
Seems to be pushing bi-state but I don't see Kansas approving that at this point of time. Also would like the team to kick in quite a bit.

[langosta]

Here are the pluses:
* fills in CC to east crossroads nicely
* 11 blocks to Negro Leagues Museum and 18th Vine ... could spur development along 18th and 19th between crossroads and jazz district.

A streetcar line across east CR to 18th and Vine would do more for those areas and cost less than what the city will be expected to contribute to the stadium.

[rokhok]

Good comments, but isn't this where the milhaus project is currently under construction?

Artistry is 19th to 20th, Oak to Cherry.

That site is gone for good, the angle of the tracks makes what's left way too small.

Man I can't believe I missed that... What about further east at 19th and grand.. I cant picture what is there now

[flyingember]

Good comments, but isn't this where the milhaus project is currently under construction?

Artistry is 19th to 20th, Oak to Cherry.

That site is gone for good, the angle of the tracks makes what's left way too small.

Man I can't believe I missed that... What about further east at 19th and grand.. I cant picture what is there now

19th to 20th, Grand to McGee is a parking lot owned by Price Development. minimum size needed for small stadium is two blocks, most likely will end up on most or all of four blocks. Don’t count on that area at all.

[ToDactivist]

Macro solution - abort north loop, keep ditch for parking and commuter rail link, remove walnut bridge, Cerner stadium east of main, west of grand, easy fit and on the people mover with parking aplenty and commuter link

[TheLastGentleman]

Please keep the stadium away from the north loop

[KCPowercat]

Why?