Kansas City Proposes $600M in Bonds to Keep Royals

City officials aim to build new stadium to retain MLB franchise

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented elements of a baseball stadium, players, and fans, rendered in shades of blue and white to represent the Kansas City Royals.Kansas City's proposal to invest $600 million in a new baseball stadium aims to keep the Royals franchise from relocating.Kansas City Today

Kansas City, Missouri, is proposing to issue $600 million in bonds to build a new stadium for the city's Major League Baseball team, the Royals, in an effort to keep the franchise from relocating.

Why it matters

The Royals have been a fixture in Kansas City for decades, and losing the team would be a major blow to the city's sports identity and economy. Retaining the Royals is seen as crucial for maintaining Kansas City's status as a major league city.

The details

Under the proposal, Kansas City would issue $600 million in bonds to fund the construction of a new stadium for the Royals. The team's current stadium, Kauffman Stadium, opened in 1973 and is considered outdated by modern MLB standards. City officials hope the new stadium will convince the Royals to remain in Kansas City rather than potentially relocating to another city.

  • The proposal was announced on April 11, 2026.

The players

Kansas City, Missouri

The city that is proposing to issue $600 million in bonds to build a new stadium for the Royals MLB team.

Royals

The Major League Baseball team that has been based in Kansas City for decades and is the focus of the stadium proposal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The proposal will need to be approved by the Kansas City city council and potentially go to a public vote before any bonds can be issued.

The takeaway

Keeping the Royals in Kansas City is a high priority for local officials, who are willing to invest hundreds of millions in public funds to build a new stadium and retain the MLB franchise.