In a move that could reshape Kansas City’s downtown, the Royals unveiled plans to build a new ballpark in the East Crossroads neighborhood.
The chosen site for the new stadium is bordered by Grand Boulevard on the west, 17th Street to the south, Locust Street to the east and Truman Road to the north. The site covers the former Kansas City Star Press Pavilion location overlooking the highway directly across from the T-Mobile Center, downtown.
The renderings shared by the Royals depict a grand-scale project that includes a new stadium, office spaces, retail outlets, residential areas, and other area development.
The 17.3-acre site would be the largest public-private partnership in Kansas City’s history, costing a total of $2 billion. $1 billion will go toward building a new stadium and would be subsidized by taxpayers through a proposed extension of a 3/8th cent sales tax. The Royals ownership group also promises to put forward $1B in a new ballpark district and development into the area.
“I believe in my gut the timing is right for the Royals to become residents of the crossroads, and neighbors to Power & Light, 18th & Vine, and Hospital Hill, helping to further connect the cultural center of our great city,” said Royals majority owner John Sherman.
The Royals claim the site was chosen as a way to interconnect neighborhoods. Plans include improvements along 18th Street, including walking and bike lanes, hoping to connect 18th & Vine and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) to the proposed new Royals Stadium.
“This is transformative,” said NLBM President Bob Kendrick. “Understand that the transformation of Kansas City’s east side is good for our entire city.”
The Royals project that their investment will spur more investment. For example, Kansas City is in the fundraising stage to build a park over a stretch of Interstate 670 downtown just north of the ballpark site. The Royals say that their move will spur the needed investment to finish that project, and they will contribute to extending the cap over the highway three blocks to their stadium.
The announcement has come with some pushback, as the proposed ballpark and ballpark district would displace at least 20 small businesses. The Royals say that they will pay a fair rate to acquire the needed properties for their plan.
Bridget Williams, CEO of the Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City, says that this downtown stadium project will likely only be completed if the sales tax renewal is passed. A vote is scheduled for April 2 for a 40-year, 3/8th cent sales tax extension in Jackson County that would fund both this project and stadium renovations for the Chiefs.
The proposed ‘south loop park’ cap over the highway would connect T-Mobile Center to the new ballpark. 
A bird’s eye view of the proposed new stadium and ballpark district. 
Proposed developments along 18th Street, hoping to connect 18th & Vine to the new stadium. 
An East-to-West view of the stadium at night.