The news of the Kansas City Chiefs’ move to Kansas has Missouri leaders focused on keeping the Royals in the Show-Me State.

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas recently spoke with KSHB 41’s Caitlin Knute and made it clear he continues to push for the team to build a new stadium in the Washington Square Park area, which sits one block east of Union Station and one block north of Crown Center.

Lucas shared several reasons why the site makes sense, noting it would not harm existing businesses and is already built around entertainment and tourism.

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“You have a footprint that does not take out any existing business,” Lucas said. “You have a footprint that already itself is largely tourism, entertainment-related and focused. You have tens of thousands of parking spaces nearby.”

The Royals and Chiefs Stadium Situation

The stadium conversation traces back to April 2024 when Jackson County voters rejected a proposal to extend a local sales tax to fund a new Royals ballpark and renovate Arrowhead Stadium.

That vote failed with 58 percent against it, leaving both teams to explore other options.

On December 22, 2025, the Chiefs officially announced plans to move to a new domed stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

The Royals’ lease at Kauffman Stadium runs through 2030, and the team has made it clear they will not stay past that date.

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The Royals have been looking at several sites, including Washington Square Park, North Kansas City in Clay County, and Overland Park, Kansas.

Where a Downtown Ballpark Would Be Located

The Washington Square Park site sits at Pershing and Grand in downtown Kansas City, steps from Union Station, which hosted the Royals’ 2015 World Series celebration.

According to developers, there are nearly 19,000 parking spaces within four blocks, and the only building that would need to come down is the former Blue Cross and Blue Shield building, which has been vacated.

Lucas has promised any deal would be responsible for taxpayers, saying, “We have already, I think, put out some strong proposals, in terms of what a stadium could look like, what the financing could look like and beyond.”

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Looking at the Royals’ Current Standing

The Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record, placing third in the American League Central.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. continued to be one of the best players in baseball, batting .295 with 184 hits and 47 doubles (both leading MLB) while stealing 38 bases and winning his second straight Gold Glove.

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino had a career year with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs, and catcher Salvador Perez reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the second time in his career.

The future of Royals baseball may be decided by where the team plays its home games, and Mayor Lucas is doing everything he can to keep them in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.