WILL BE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. ONE MORE THING ON HIS PLATE AS COUNTY EXEC, HELPING TO REACH A NEW STADIUM DEAL WITH THE CHIEFS AND ROYALS. LAST YEAR, JACKSON COUNTY VOTERS SHOT DOWN A SALES TAX EXTENSION THAT WOULD HAVE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR BOTH TEAMS. THE CHIEFS AND ROYALS ARE STILL DECIDING THEIR NEXT STEPS. LATE TODAY, NORTH KANSAS CITY MAYOR JESSE SMITH RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING HIS CITY IS STILL TALKING TO THE ROYALS ABOUT A POSSIBLE STADIUM. HE CALLS THE TALKS SUBSTANTIAL AND WILL B
Mayor: North Kansas City continues talks with Royals over potential stadium project
Updated: 6:36 PM CDT Oct 16, 2025
North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith said Thursday the city continues active discussions with the Kansas City Royals about a potential new stadium and surrounding development north of the river.Smith said the talks are “substantial” and will require collaboration between the city, Clay County, and the State of Missouri. “As Mayor, I remain committed to transparency throughout this process and want to share the priorities I have consistently communicated on behalf of our community,” Smith said in a statement.In the statement, Smith outlined four guiding principles for any agreement involving the team: protecting the city’s long-term financial health, safeguarding nearby neighborhoods from traffic and parking impacts, leveraging outside investment for infrastructure upgrades, and ensuring ongoing engagement with residents and businesses. “Any agreement must be fair and beneficial for North Kansas City, our residents, businesses, and the Royals,” Smith said. “It must be a true win-win-win.”The Royals have not yet announced a final site decision for their proposed new ballpark.The news comes as Jackson County, Missouri, the current home of the Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, is in a period of leadership transition following the recall of former county executive Frank White. Downtown Kansas City, Overland Park, and North Kansas City are three possible locations for any new stadium, according to past KMBC reporting.
NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith said Thursday the city continues active discussions with the Kansas City Royals about a potential new stadium and surrounding development north of the river.
Smith said the talks are “substantial” and will require collaboration between the city, Clay County, and the State of Missouri.
“As Mayor, I remain committed to transparency throughout this process and want to share the priorities I have consistently communicated on behalf of our community,” Smith said in a statement.
In the statement, Smith outlined four guiding principles for any agreement involving the team: protecting the city’s long-term financial health, safeguarding nearby neighborhoods from traffic and parking impacts, leveraging outside investment for infrastructure upgrades, and ensuring ongoing engagement with residents and businesses.
“Any agreement must be fair and beneficial for North Kansas City, our residents, businesses, and the Royals,” Smith said. “It must be a true win-win-win.”
The Royals have not yet announced a final site decision for their proposed new ballpark.
The news comes as Jackson County, Missouri, the current home of the Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, is in a period of leadership transition following the recall of former county executive Frank White.
Downtown Kansas City, Overland Park, and North Kansas City are three possible locations for any new stadium, according to past KMBC reporting.