Deadline Near for Royals Stadium Measure to Reach November Ballot

The Race to Meet the Deadline for a Potential Royals Stadium in Missouri

As the deadline for stadium funding approaches, the Kansas City Royals are under pressure to finalize plans for a new ballpark in Missouri. If the team hopes to have the issue on the November ballot, they must act quickly. The key date is August 26, and with only a few weeks left, the situation remains uncertain.

In Jackson County, County Executive Frank White Jr. has stepped back from the discussion, allowing Kansas City, Missouri, to take the lead on negotiations south of the river. Meanwhile, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has expressed confidence that the Royals could build a stadium at Washington Square Park without requiring a ballot initiative. However, this option is still being explored and may not be the final decision.

In Clay County, where the Royals had previously considered building a ballpark near 18th and Fayette in North Kansas City, the county commission is moving forward with its own timeline. The commission has four more meetings scheduled before the August 26 deadline. These meetings are set for July 31, August 7, August 14, and August 21 at the Clay County Administration Building in Liberty, Missouri.

Jerry Nolte, the presiding commissioner of Clay County, acknowledged the urgency of the situation when asked about the possibility of a Royals stadium measure appearing on the November ballot. “That is…up to the team and how quickly they want to move,” he said. Nolte emphasized that he would prefer to have two meetings before any proposal is put on the ballot. If the Royals aim to meet the August 26 deadline, the stadium topic would likely be introduced during the August 14 meeting, with follow-up discussions on August 21. However, if the proposal is delayed until the August 7 meeting, it may not appear on the agenda until later.

“Clearly, to make that deadline would be…a good bit of hurry-up involved,” Nolte added.

Local Residents Express Frustration

North Kansas City resident Dave Wood, who lives near the proposed site, is skeptical about the Royals’ commitment to the project. He believes the team is using Clay County as a bargaining chip rather than making a serious effort to bring the stadium to the area.

“I think we’re a bargaining chip,” Wood said. “Not that that’s not an attractive site. But again, there are so many things and questions that need to be answered before we even get to a tax vote.”

Wood is unlikely to support a countywide sales tax increase to fund the stadium. He feels the Royals are playing both sides, suggesting that Clay County and Kansas are viable options. “Putting out there that Clay County is an option, Kansas is an option…it just seems like they’re playing all these angles,” he told FOX4. “Quite frankly, a lot of us are just kind of tired of all the drama.”

Negotiations and Design Plans

Earlier this year, Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman mentioned that the team planned to discuss the stadium further in June or July. However, the process has been anything but straightforward. In August 2023, the Royals released renderings of two potential stadium sites: one at 18th and Fayette in North Kansas City, and another in the East Village of Kansas City, Missouri.

By February 2024, the team shifted its focus to the East Crossroads of Kansas City, Missouri, northwest of 17th and Oak. This plan was supported by a joint effort with the Chiefs, but the April 2024 vote failed by 16%.

According to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the average construction time for a stadium is four years and five months. If the Royals hope to play at a new stadium in March 2031, construction would need to begin by October 2026. This timeline adds even more pressure on the team and local officials to make decisions quickly.

A Complex Process

Despite the challenges, a spokesperson for the Royals stated that the team remains in active discussions with Clay County. However, the process has been described as complex, with multiple factors at play.

County Commissioner Nolte noted that while the Royals have been slow to move, it is part of the standard negotiation process. “I think this is just a feature of what these negotiations are like,” he said. “Having been through these kinds of negotiations to an extent before, I understand that it’s a mistake to take it personally and just understand that there are a lot of moving parts.”

With the August 26 deadline fast approaching, the next few weeks will be critical in determining whether the Royals can secure the necessary support to bring a new stadium to Missouri.