Downtown Baseball Stadium

[aknowledgeableperson]

Two items. I saw a few commenting that the proposed stadium would have the smallest seating capacity for MLB. First I heard of this. Second, early voting has been much higher than in past April elections. Of course no results of vote totals. Election officials are expecting a voter turnout of close to double the average numbers for an April election.

[KCPowercat]

They said Oak will remain open, they didn't say it will remain straight. I dropped some basic drawings in here months ago showing how a small stadium could work while adjusting Oak a bit. Very common around baseball stadiums.

Hard to imagine how they'll fit a stadium strictly between Oak and Grand. About 100 feet short of even the smallest modern stadium width.

Yeah at minimum they will cut oak in half. If they are tabling buying up buildings east side of Oak they can't make it too crooked (yet)

Confirmed they still plan to buy all they can across Oak and proceed with developing that block.

I have no problem with this. Having dreams of them weaving themselves into the buildings they can't nab OR they find valuable/historic.

[DColeKC]

Two items. I saw a few commenting that the proposed stadium would have the smallest seating capacity for MLB. First I heard of this. Second, early voting has been much higher than in past April elections. Of course no results of vote totals. Election officials are expecting a voter turnout of close to double the average numbers for an April election.

John Sherman said they’re expecting 4 times the amount of what’s typical for an April vote.

[beautyfromashes]

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals- ... dium-plans
This should have been the type of messaging from the beginning from Sherman and the Royals. Some humility asking for money from normal people, joining an already vibrant neighborhood, acting with class and care. They are sounding more committed to preserving at least the best of buildings in the area, maintaining Oak as a vital road, and keeping a small footprint while adding needed amenities. I'd like a plan for the 670 park, some discussion
from Mayor Q and the city about what happens with East Village and better visibility on all funding sources and timeframes for construction of all pieces of the development. I think those should be easy to give.

[bricknose]

Interview with Mayor Q by Kyle Talbot asking his honest opinion about the Royals/Chiefs deal and if it’s good or not: https://youtu.be/VHaYSv-H9FQ?si=H61jii1xVMWihhCR Jump to 19:15.

In short, Mayor Q makes the argument that in our size of market, it’s not so easy to ask the Royals and Chiefs to fund their stadiums solo, and things like the KC Current have demonstrated the significant positive feedback loop that can come from downtown events that draw thousands of people. Despite him being officially neutral on the topic, he makes excellent arguments in favor of the stadium which I personally agree strongly with.

[FangKC]

A look at the recent history of sports stadium financing and Jackson County's Question 1

...
Financial experts argue that teams stay even without taxpayer money.

There are approximately 118 professional sports stadiums in the U.S.

About 59% of sports facility referendums don't include a sales tax component. Since 1993, 47% of stadium sales tax referendums have failed.

There are 13 stadiums built without tax breaks or subsidies.
...

https://www.kmbc.com/article/look-at-th ... /60325507#

[DaveKCMO]

Election officials are expecting a voter turnout of close to double the average numbers for an April election.

Same thing happened in 2006. Not surprising.

[Metro]

0 buzz about today being opening day

[AllThingsKC]

0 buzz about today being opening day

You must not be on social media or watching local TV.

[KCPowercat]

https://twitter.com/downtownkc/status/1 ... 87484?s=19

[dnweava]

0 buzz about today being opening day

feels like the most buzz since the world series to me.

[gfisch95]

0 buzz about today being opening day

feels like the most buzz since the world series to me.

All my students and fellow teachers in my school are talking about opening day today, both positively and negatively.

[AllThingsKC]

https://twitter.com/downtownkc/status/1 ... 87484?s=19

This is pretty well thought out and sums up how I feel.

But no matter what rational points I make to people, the #1 pushback I get is "DON'T HELP BILLIONAIRES!"

[DColeKC]

https://twitter.com/downtownkc/status/1 ... 87484?s=19

This is pretty well thought out and sums up how I feel.

But no matter what rational points I make to people, the #1 pushback I get is "DON'T HELP BILLIONAIRES!"

It's exhausting. It really shows the lack of understand many people have about wealth in general.

I wonder if they thought in everyday people terms if it would help. If I own a $500,000 dollar house and have a few paid off cars, I'm worth say $600k but does that mean I have 600k available to go build something? Of course not. Do we really expect most of these owners to pay for these things in full themselves? People see big numbers but not the real numbers. Sure, a few MLB teams make 400 million a year in revenue but that's top line revenue and we don't see what the bottom line nets out to. The sports teams I've worked with see a very small net profit each year, less than 3 million in fact. So to pretend these guys are getting rich off the team and can afford to build expensive stadiums alone is a joke.

[Metro]

0 buzz about today being opening day

You must not be on social media or watching local TV.

I do both. Neither have been talking about it.

[shinatoo]

It's sold out, so I guess it's popular?

Also we got the fan vote to win the cental. MLB Central had a couple of commentators pick Bobbo Whitt Jr to win AL MVP and Cole Ragans to win AL Cy Young.

I wouldn't bet any money on any of those things but I would take the over on 74.5 games.

[KCPowercat]

https://twitter.com/downtownkc/status/1 ... 87484?s=19

This is pretty well thought out and sums up how I feel.

But no matter what rational points I make to people, the #1 pushback I get is "DON'T HELP BILLIONAIRES!"

Thanks!

[AllThingsKC]

It's sold out, so I guess it's popular?

Every local channel has been talking about Opening Day.

Local sports stations are talking about it.

My social media feeds are full of pictures from people getting ready to go or cheering on the Royals.

Chiefs players are tweeting their best wishes for today and the season.

I have been to 3 businesses today with the employees wearing Royals gear.

It will be sell out game.


But:

0 buzz about today being opening day

[Metro]

It's sold out, so I guess it's popular?

Every local channel has been talking about Opening Day.

Local sports stations are talking about it.

My social media feeds are full of pictures from people getting ready to go or cheering on the Royals.

Chiefs players are tweeting their best wishes for today and the season.

I have been to 3 businesses today with the employees wearing Royals gear.

It will be sell out game.


But:

0 buzz about today being opening day

LMAO of course local sports would talk about it and nobody cares about your social media feed. Theres zero buzz for opening day and the Royals in general who aside from a few years are always in the bottom in attendance.

[AllThingsKC]

You and I have different definitions of "zero buzz."