Downtown Baseball Stadium

[beautyfromashes]

I think the main factor that will keep the Royals in Missouri and downtown is the current lease. I’m not sure the Royals could survive until the end of it and they won’t get out of it unless they stay on the Missouri side.

[DaveKCMO]

I was told by a few people that the Johnson County site is presently "smoke and mirrors" and that "the Royals still have a strong desire to be in Downtown". This is as recent as 2 weeks ago. The process isn't moving along as fast as people had hoped, but things are going on.

That's because the current ownership was BUILT for downtown.

[dukuboy1]

Time will tell, but I honestly do not see the Royals going downtown unless the state of Missouri pulls a billion or more out of its ass for KC and that has never happened and it's not going to happen when so many people are just fine with the Royals leaving vs going downtown due to non-existing issues like "parking" and "traffic". KC is a bizarre place. Everybody there is a waling billboard for the city with KC this an KC that on everything they own, but they can't fathom the idea of making downtown vibrant. Weird place.

Funny you say that. When I was back in town over Christmas for the first time since 2019 one of the main things I noticed about people is they dress like tourists in KC clothing and rep the city on a t-shirt or a hat harder than anywhere I've ever been. Yet when I spoke to people about Downtown they speak very negatively. They are fear ridden about it being unsafe and a nightmare to navigate. The discussions I had with people about the Plaza were also more negative than I remember. Its very odd. Being out of KC really changes how you view it, because neither of those perceptions are remotely true especially compared to bigger cities I believe we should aspire to.

I think the pride people have is that KC is this suburban, family friend area free from the perceived negatives of bigger, dirtier markets. They don't want it to become like MSP or Denver nevermind beyond those. They want more Johnson County and less Power and Light.

And I like Mayor Lucas on the face, his heart seems in the right place. However if his interference directed them from a 6.5/7 out of 10 site lying empty in the East VIllage to a more contentious plan and in the end for the Royals to pivot to Kansas then that really tarnishes his legacy in my eyes.

I am very sceptical about the JoCo Ballpark Village concept. This market is not Atlanta. They will not be able to replicate that like for like. The stadium should be Downtown, but I don't think anyone except people on here and a few on places like Reddit, Cityscene really care or know about the damage it'll cause.

It is an interesting thing to see people from KC loving to wear KC branded clothes, etc. I think a lot of the suburban folks may be skeptical of downtown but they love to be a part of it, especially big events etc. So it's kind of a catch 22 with them. I also feel that those who are critical of downtown & KCMO tend to be more vocal or a louder minority than those that are fine with it. Shame there are not more vocal champions willing to step out and say as much. There is a silent majority that think it is fine but at the same time can be critical of it's flaws but understand there are flaws everywhere.

[FlippantCitizen]

Couple of thoughts.

I'm close with someone who worked with John Sherman and Brooks Sherman for years and still has at least somewhat regular contact with at least B. Sherman. These guys were 100% all in on urban baseball and had a very distinct vision when they bought the team. Of course money talks and circumstances change but based on everything I had heard I would be shocked to find out this ownership group would roll over on downtown baseball after losing one vote that I think even they would admit they botched. I think this group knows how critical downtown baseball is for continuing to catalyze KC's development and that is part of the legacy they want to build through their ownership of the team, at least this was at some point, I'm not up to date on how discouraged they possibly could have been but I highly doubt they've given up completely on KC.

Second, I also will be 100% done giving a dime to the Royals if they go to OP. From someone who was in the stands in 04-10 with my grandpa's ticket package building a love of the game and the team as a kid through some terrible years, as someone who was at game 7 in 2014 and game 5 at Citi field in 2015, as someone who has bought tickets every year I've lived back in KC since college and seen them on the road while living away. I will be disgusted if they abandon KCMO and I honestly don't think my love for the team could ever fully recover from that.

I still have hope this gets done downtown but my spirits in this regard are at a low as I think everyone here feels. I still have some conviction left that downtown will happen. Yes, evidence free, all based on feels.

[iamrealz]

I still have hope this gets done downtown but my spirits in this regard are at a low as I think everyone here feels. I still have some conviction left that downtown will happen. Yes, evidence free, all based on feels.

I gotta agree. I won't give up hope unless there's a KS announcement or we get through the Missouri legislative session without any deals. The Governor wants to keep em, the House Leader is local and wants to keep em, and the Senate Pro Tem has espoused the positives of downtown baseball.

The keys for a win are there, arguably a bigger win with state funding supplementing local taxes. But relying on Jeff City for anything is, uh, yeah

[TheUrbanRoo]

This is a once in a generation chance to fill in that Blue Cross sunken pit and flush out that homeless park adjacent to US. If the Royals don't land, nothing will come to fill those two area's. To me that's nearly as big as getting MLB downtown itself.

[beautyfromashes]

This is a once in a generation chance to fill in that Blue Cross sunken pit and flush out that homeless park adjacent to US. If the Royals don't land, nothing will come to fill those two area's. To me that's nearly as big as getting MLB downtown itself.

Have to agree with this. It will immediately pay off with increased hotel money at the Westin and Sheraton, keeps Hallmark happy, revitalizes Crown Center even more and should increase demand for office space along Grand. It’s not just a positive public relations project for the city, it’s a sound business deal.

[FlippantCitizen]

This is a once in a generation chance to fill in that Blue Cross sunken pit and flush out that homeless park adjacent to US. If the Royals don't land, nothing will come to fill those two area's. To me that's nearly as big as getting MLB downtown itself.

Completely agree. That location would be entirely additive to the environment downtown and is a huge opportunity. I was very cold on the Crossroads proposal because regardless of whether the specific businesses that are currently there survive indefinitely (and business rarely ever do) it's about the ecosystem and the built environment that will allow businesses like those to come and go and reinvent overtime. If the WSP site can become reality, and I'm holding onto faith that it still can... it will be a win win win for all stakeholders IMO.

[BrisbaneKC]

I read that Bob Fescoe said on his show today (yesterday for most of you) that the East Village site was a done deal until Mayor Lucas interjected and now it’s hanging in the balance whether or not it goes Downtown at all. I have seen this allegation made several times without it being confirmed nor denied. Why hasn’t the Mayor been pushed on this claim as to whether it’s true or not? He has been extremely vocal throughout the whole stadium debate yet little seems to have been spoken of on this particular matter. I have also read some posts on here and elsewhere about the federal government being unhappy about that as a possible stadium location, but there has never been an official response in relation to that. 

I looked to find the Royals stance on this and whilst they did they say something, it came across as vague and disingenuous. Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

It seems like to me like the public will never know the full story behind this.

[FangKC]

There are no longer reporters who have inside access to all the key players. There aren't experienced reporters at the KC Star who have years of relationships with people who know the details and would give them background, or comment on the record. The Star got rid of all of them. The local TV stations don't really have that either. KMBC's Micheal Mahoney is mostly retired from the politics beat. He is the only TV reporter still alive who has that sort of access. The only other would have been Len Dawson and he's dead. No current reporter has the balls to directly confront Lucas on stadium negotiations, and who has the receipts to know the answer before they ask.

[smh]

There are no longer reporters who have inside access to all the key players. There aren't experienced reporters at the KC Star who have years of relationships with people who know the details and would give them background, or comment on the record. The Star got rid of all of them. The local TV stations don't really have that either. KMBC's Micheal Mahoney is mostly retired from the politics beat. He is the only TV reporter still alive who has that sort of access. The only other would have been Len Dawson and he's dead. No current reporter has the balls to directly confront Lucas on stadium negotiations, and who has the receipts to know the answer before they ask.

This. On all topics the KC region is poorer due to overall lack of information/reporting.

[DaveKCMO]

Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

lololololololol

these people can go sit on a fucking stick.

[FangKC]

^^
Dave The Impaler.

[Imarealperson]

I read that Bob Fescoe said on his show today (yesterday for most of you) that the East Village site was a done deal until Mayor Lucas interjected and now it’s hanging in the balance whether or not it goes Downtown at all. I have seen this allegation made several times without it being confirmed nor denied. Why hasn’t the Mayor been pushed on this claim as to whether it’s true or not? He has been extremely vocal throughout the whole stadium debate yet little seems to have been spoken of on this particular matter. I have also read some posts on here and elsewhere about the federal government being unhappy about that as a possible stadium location, but there has never been an official response in relation to that. 

I looked to find the Royals stance on this and whilst they did they say something, it came across as vague and disingenuous. Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

It seems like to me like the public will never know the full story behind this.

I don’t know how many residents would’ve been displaced by the “crossroads” location. I suppose it depends on if we are counting alleys.

[DMNBT_RCJH]

I don’t know how many residents would’ve been displaced by the “crossroads” location. I suppose it depends on if we are counting alleys.

I laughed.

[Link2]

I read that Bob Fescoe said on his show today (yesterday for most of you) that the East Village site was a done deal until Mayor Lucas interjected and now it’s hanging in the balance whether or not it goes Downtown at all. I have seen this allegation made several times without it being confirmed nor denied. Why hasn’t the Mayor been pushed on this claim as to whether it’s true or not? He has been extremely vocal throughout the whole stadium debate yet little seems to have been spoken of on this particular matter. I have also read some posts on here and elsewhere about the federal government being unhappy about that as a possible stadium location, but there has never been an official response in relation to that. 

I looked to find the Royals stance on this and whilst they did they say something, it came across as vague and disingenuous. Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

It seems like to me like the public will never know the full story behind this.

I can confirm it was Mayor Lucas who directed the site switch and then ran from any accountability thereafter.

[KCPowercat]

really needs to come out.

[Link2]

really needs to come out.

100%

[DColeKC]

I read that Bob Fescoe said on his show today (yesterday for most of you) that the East Village site was a done deal until Mayor Lucas interjected and now it’s hanging in the balance whether or not it goes Downtown at all. I have seen this allegation made several times without it being confirmed nor denied. Why hasn’t the Mayor been pushed on this claim as to whether it’s true or not? He has been extremely vocal throughout the whole stadium debate yet little seems to have been spoken of on this particular matter. I have also read some posts on here and elsewhere about the federal government being unhappy about that as a possible stadium location, but there has never been an official response in relation to that. 

I looked to find the Royals stance on this and whilst they did they say something, it came across as vague and disingenuous. Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

It seems like to me like the public will never know the full story behind this.

I don’t know how many residents would’ve been displaced by the “crossroads” location. I suppose it depends on if we are counting alleys.

LOL

Apparently Dave doesn't understand the different between displacing people from their homes and displacing people from their rented business location that in most cases will be out of business before this stadium is open due to poor foot traffic and an overall lack of business.

[DColeKC]

I read that Bob Fescoe said on his show today (yesterday for most of you) that the East Village site was a done deal until Mayor Lucas interjected and now it’s hanging in the balance whether or not it goes Downtown at all. I have seen this allegation made several times without it being confirmed nor denied. Why hasn’t the Mayor been pushed on this claim as to whether it’s true or not? He has been extremely vocal throughout the whole stadium debate yet little seems to have been spoken of on this particular matter. I have also read some posts on here and elsewhere about the federal government being unhappy about that as a possible stadium location, but there has never been an official response in relation to that. 

I looked to find the Royals stance on this and whilst they did they say something, it came across as vague and disingenuous. Basically a clip of Sarah Tourville at a public forum saying they switched to the Crossroads location because they did not want to displace residents in the East Village, which is obviously extremely ironic as the biggest concern of the Crossroads campaign was regarding displacement.

It seems like to me like the public will never know the full story behind this.

Only part that's inaccurate to my knowledge is the idea that East Village was ever a "done deal". Nothing in this entire debacle has ever been a done deal or even close.