A Clay County Commissioner said he’s “done negotiating with the Royals” as the team’s quest for a new ballpark site moves forward.Commissioner Jason Withington wrote on the social media platform “X” , “I loathe the business of baseball. Like Kansas I’m done negotiating with the Royals. We worked in good faith for November 2025, then April 2026. They’re not ready for either. At some point, you stop negotiating.””I can see his frustration. North Kansas City has got everything. It’s got the area. It’s where I want it to go,” said Jim Chappell, Chappell’s Sports Bar and Museum founder.In July, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe stopped at Chappell’s to sign a bill into law creating the Clay County Sports Authority. It’s part of the framework necessary to have the Royals build a ballpark in North Kansas City on undeveloped property in an industrial area within walking distance of Chappell’s.In July, Withington posted on Facebook that the Royals had given Clay County leaders a terms sheet.Six months later, Withington said he’s done.With Kansas leaders stating their STAR bonds offer to help the Royals build a new ballpark, which expired at the end of 2025, and Withington’s comments, Chappell believes downtown Kansas City is the likely site.”If they got a choice in downtown or here, they’re going to go downtown,” he said.North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith declined to comment pending input from his Clay County partners.Clay County Commissioners were scheduled to meet on Thursday night.Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte previously said that Clay County voters would need to approve a sales tax referendum to fund construction of a new Royals ballpark.Jackson County voters defeated a similar referendum in April 2024.A spokesman for the Royals said, “We don’t have anything public to say or share. I know there’s a lot being said by a lot of people, but we’re in the same spot working hard toward the best solution.”

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. —

A Clay County Commissioner said he’s “done negotiating with the Royals” as the team’s quest for a new ballpark site moves forward.

Commissioner Jason Withington wrote on the social media platform “X” , “I loathe the business of baseball. Like Kansas I’m done negotiating with the Royals. We worked in good faith for November 2025, then April 2026. They’re not ready for either. At some point, you stop negotiating.”

“I can see his frustration. North Kansas City has got everything. It’s got the area. It’s where I want it to go,” said Jim Chappell, Chappell’s Sports Bar and Museum founder.

In July, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe stopped at Chappell’s to sign a bill into law creating the Clay County Sports Authority.

It’s part of the framework necessary to have the Royals build a ballpark in North Kansas City on undeveloped property in an industrial area within walking distance of Chappell’s.

In July, Withington posted on Facebook that the Royals had given Clay County leaders a terms sheet.

Six months later, Withington said he’s done.

With Kansas leaders stating their STAR bonds offer to help the Royals build a new ballpark, which expired at the end of 2025, and Withington’s comments, Chappell believes downtown Kansas City is the likely site.

“If they got a choice in downtown or here, they’re going to go downtown,” he said.

North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith declined to comment pending input from his Clay County partners.

Clay County Commissioners were scheduled to meet on Thursday night.

Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte previously said that Clay County voters would need to approve a sales tax referendum to fund construction of a new Royals ballpark.

Jackson County voters defeated a similar referendum in April 2024.

A spokesman for the Royals said, “We don’t have anything public to say or share. I know there’s a lot being said by a lot of people, but we’re in the same spot working hard toward the best solution.”