K.C. Mayor Quinton Lucas on Wednesday “vowed to strike a downtown stadium deal” with the Royals during his annual State of the City address, a “promise that would mark the culmination of a yearslong fight over the team,” according to Kacen Bayless of the K.C. STAR. The “fight over the Royals has long roiled Kansas City politics, threatening to define both the city’s future and Lucas’ tenure as mayor.” Lucas said during the speech, “We will get a deal done in 2026 that’s fair and transparent for our taxpayers, our future and our team. … As part of our growth, our retention of the Kansas City Royals in the only home they’ve ever known, Kansas City, is a must.” Bayless writes the “speech came as momentum builds for a Royals stadium in Jackson County.” But “missing from Lucas’ address, however, was any mention of a specific stadium location.” The mayor “signaled that it was likely by design, telling reporters after the speech that the decision over where, exactly, to house the Royals would be up to the team.” But Lucas “also hinted strongly at his long-preferred spot: Washington Square Park near the Crown Center.” Lucas told reporters, “There’s been a lot of work done here in Washington Square Park. There’s been a lot of discussion. … I imagine that’s a location that will be very heavily evaluated” (K.C. STAR, 2/11).
