@@Kansas City Royals

[Bryant DeLong] An Open Letter to the Kansas City Area Community:

  • May 19, 2023


From the Desks of
Jerry Nolte, Clay County Presiding Commissioner
Bryant DeLong, Mayor, North Kansas City
Scott Wagner, Clay County Western Commissioner

May 19, 2023

An Open Letter to the Kansas City Area Community:

Over the past few months leaders from Clay County and the City of North Kansas City have had conversations with the Kansas City Royals about the possibility of developing a new baseball stadium and adjacent ballpark district in North Kansas City. This plan would include commercial, residential development and entertainment experiences adjacent to the stadium, complementing the amazing businesses and entertainment options that already exist in downtown North Kansas City today. We look forward to continuing our work with the Royals and have addittional meetings scheduled with them.

The Royals confirmed in a recent media report that they are considering a loca􀆟on in North Kansas City. We think it is important that we communicate our efforts with the community, and the reason we plan to work with the Royals on behalf of our respective jurisdictions to select a North Kansas City site for the planned new stadium. Although no agreement has been reached by either Clay County or North Kansas City to take acton on, we are striving to lay the groundwork necessary for a plan that is positive for the city, the county and our entire community.

To date, plans and communications have been positive and resulted in an ongoing dialogue that could create a neighborhood centric ballpark- similar to Wrigley Field and the surrounding “Wrigleyville” in Chicago. Our objective is to create a place where fans and visitors to the Northland can enjoy best-in-class sports experiences and “live-work-play” in a thriving and safe urban ballpark neighborhood. A development that will take our city and region to the next level and allow Kansas City to compete head- to-head with cities like Nashville and Dallas for employers and talent, furthering the growth of the fifth largest county economically in our state. All of this can be had while still viewing and being seconds away from Downtown Kansas
City. We believe the benefits that this will bring to Clay County and North Kansas City warrants public support from the Northland.

The Royals have made clear to us the logic behind their desire to move and it is compelling. The Royals vision is to develop a ballpark and district around it that will deliver positive community impact and economic activity 365 days a year ensuring their competiveness with MLB peer markets nationwide. We simply believe, therefore, that if a move is to be, then there is no reason why it can’t be to Clay County. As we continue to move forward, our intention is to present to our legislative bodies and our citizens the best plan possible. We are commited to that goal.

We will continue to communicate with our partners, community stakeholders and the citizens of Clay County as these discussions mature. We know there are lots of questions to answer and we will do our best to share details as they become available.

Sincerely,
Jerry Nolte
Bryant DeLong
Scott Wagner

7 comments

  1. I actually like the idea of the stadium being in the downtown area of NKC. That area has really turned into a cool little place and bringing the stadium there would really push it into the next stratosphere of cool. It isn’t that much further than downtown and would be an easier pill to swallow for the grumpy “where are we all gonna park” crowd that hates the idea of bringing more stuff into the loop.

    I also like the idea because it will add another layer of confusion for those outside the city, “wait its in North Kansas City which is different than KCMO, which is different than KCK?”

  2. The new stadium will be build on the East Side. JE Dunn owns a big portion of the land there and they’ve been sitting on it. It’s going to happen there for better or worse. I don’t like that location but whatever.

    A NKC stadium will never happen but you may as well keep it at its current location if you’re going to move it to NKC. It is a more interesting choice though and it would be better than the east side though. I actually like the present location of the K right now but I’ve come to terms with the owner moving

  4. If Clay County wants to foot the bill for the stadium, have at it.

    I’ll probably vote for a downtown stadium, but I’m fine if Arrowhead and The K both get built in other counties.

  5. Fuck off. My taxes are already high enough. I don’t want my money going towards something the owner can easily pay for himself. The big losers are always the taxpayers. And for what? A shitty team that is happy with mediocrity so the shitty owner can keep cashing those sweet revenue sharing checks.

  6. Cool, just don’t have the taxpayers pay a penny towards it or give them some preferential deal & there won’t be an issue.

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