Kansas City Royals Eyeing Downtown Stadium Move

Neighbors in Johnson County weigh in on the potential relocation from Truman Sports Complex.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:05am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, red, and gold, conceptually representing a baseball stadium, players, and fans in a dynamic, abstract composition.A cubist interpretation of the proposed new downtown Kansas City Royals stadium, capturing the energy and excitement of America's pastime through a fractured, geometric lens.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Royals are considering a move to a new $1.9 billion stadium in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, at Washington Square Park. The proposed plan has drawn mixed reactions from neighbors in nearby Johnson County, with some welcoming the move as it would alleviate traffic concerns around the current Truman Sports Complex location, while others worry about the impact on local infrastructure.

Why it matters

The Royals' potential move to a downtown stadium represents a major economic development project for Kansas City and could reshape the city's sports landscape. While some Johnson County residents are excited about the prospect, others have voiced concerns about the traffic and logistical challenges a new stadium could bring to the area.

The details

Kansas City, Missouri, introduced an ordinance on Thursday that outlines a financial framework for a new $1.9 billion Kansas City Royals stadium at Washington Square Park. The plan calls it the 'largest economic development project in downtown KCMO's history.' The stadium saga began in 2022 when Royals owner John Sherman said the team would be leaving the Truman Sports Complex when the lease expires in 2031. Previous proposals included sites in North Kansas City and the Crossroads area, but the Aspiria Campus in Overland Park, Johnson County, gained the most attention before the Royals backed away from that idea due to concerns from local residents about traffic and access issues.

  • In November 2022, Royals owner John Sherman wrote a letter saying the team would be leaving the Truman Sports Complex when the lease expires in 2031.
  • In November 2023, Jackson County introduced an ordinance for a sales tax to help pay for a stadium in the Crossroads, but the vote failed.
  • In January 2024, the Royals backed away from the idea of calling the Aspiria Campus in Overland Park their new home.

The players

Quinton Lucas

The mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, who said the proposed downtown stadium would be the 'largest economic development project in downtown KCMO's history.'.

John Sherman

The owner of the Kansas City Royals, who wrote a letter in 2022 saying the team would be leaving the Truman Sports Complex when the lease expires in 2031.

Ken Sigman

A neighbor who expressed concerns about the Royals potentially moving to the Aspiria Campus in Overland Park, citing poor access and traffic issues.

Lynn Reardon

A neighbor who was worried about the traffic and noise a Royals stadium would bring to the Aspiria Campus area.

Amanda Palan

A neighbor near the Aspiria Campus who is happy the Royals are considering a move to downtown Kansas City instead.

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What they’re saying

“Where they want to put it, there's not even an interstate to get to it. The access is bad.”

— Ken Sigman, Neighbor

“They're always working on 119th Street, and it would just be a bottleneck on 435 too. It's a lot of games, it's a lot of traffic and it's a lot of noise.”

— Lynn Reardon, Neighbor

“I'm happy they're staying in the Kansas City metro, I don't view it as Kansas and Missouri. It's a win for everybody in the whole metro.”

— Amanda Palan, Neighbor

“People dressed up for the games, people wore nice dresses and suits — it was a whole different era. I'm thrilled. They're back home, and that's where baseball originated in Kansas City.”

— Lynn Reardon, Neighbor

“Jumbotrons. Two jumbotrons.”

— Mack Kimminau, Young Royals Fan

What’s next

The Kansas City, Missouri city council will vote on the ordinance outlining the financial framework for the new downtown Royals stadium. If approved, the city will then work with the team on a series of agreements to finalize the stadium plans and construction timeline.

The takeaway

The potential move of the Kansas City Royals to a new downtown stadium represents a major development project that has drawn mixed reactions from residents in nearby Johnson County. While some welcome the move as it could alleviate traffic concerns around the current stadium, others worry about the impact on local infrastructure. Ultimately, the decision will shape the future of the Royals and Kansas City's sports landscape.