Kansas City Considers Washington Square Park for Potential Royals Stadium

The $1.9 billion stadium would be located on this 4.8-acre green space near downtown.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the proposed Royals stadium overlaid on the existing Washington Square Park, with sharp, angular planes of blue, red, green, and brown conveying the dramatic change to the urban landscape.The proposed relocation of the Royals to downtown Kansas City's Washington Square Park would dramatically transform the public green space.Kansas City Today

Kansas City has announced a plan to offer the Royals public funds to build a new $1.9 billion stadium at Washington Square Park, a centrally located green space that currently hosts occasional protests, unhoused individuals, and the Irish Festival. The plan calls for the stadium to be completed by Opening Day 2030, a year before the team's lease expires at the Truman Sports Complex.

Why it matters

The proposed stadium location at Washington Square Park would displace the unhoused people who congregate and receive free meals there. This plan comes two years after Jackson County voters struck down a tax that would have funded construction of a Crossroads ballpark and Arrowhead Stadium renovations.

The details

The plan calls for $600 million in funding to come from Kansas City coffers, though the recently renewed 1% earnings tax would not pay for the stadium. The footprint of the park would expand to 11.6 acres with the addition of the vacant Blue Cross Blue Shield building and sunken parking lot. In comparison, Kauffman Stadium's lot currently takes up 18.8 acres.

  • Kansas City announced the plan on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • The city council is set to hold a follow-up committee hearing on Tuesday.

The players

Kansas City

The city that has announced the plan to offer the Royals public funds to build a new stadium at Washington Square Park.

Royals

The Major League Baseball team that would potentially receive public funds to build a new $1.9 billion stadium at Washington Square Park.

Washington Square Park

A 4.8-acre green space in the heart of Kansas City that is being considered as the location for the new Royals stadium.

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What’s next

The ordinance would still need to wind through the city's legislative process, with a follow-up committee hearing on Tuesday, before city council members vote on it.

The takeaway

The proposed Royals stadium at Washington Square Park raises concerns about the displacement of unhoused individuals who currently use the park, as well as the broader implications for the city's public spaces and the ongoing debate around sports stadium funding.