Royals stadium plans are moving forward, but one Kansas City group wants a public vote
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A Kansas City workers’ rights group says taxpayers should have a direct say in whether their money helps pay for a new downtown Royals stadium.
Missouri Workers Power is calling on city leaders to put the massive project to a public vote as plans for the Kansas City Royals’ new ballpark continue moving through City Hall.
“We should have a voice in this process,” Missouri Workers Power leader Terrance Wise said Monday.
The group has been pushing for a public vote since plans for the downtown ballpark were announced.
“When it comes to $600 million of our tax dollars and God knows how much more from the state, if we’re gonna give that tax money to the Royals or economic development in general, then Kansas Citians should have the opportunity to vote on it,” Wise said.
Missouri Workers Power wants Mayor Quinton Lucas to join its call to leave the issue up to voters.
Lucas met with members of the group Monday. He said there was common ground on several issues surrounding the project, particularly how workers would be treated.
“Where we really saw a lot of common ground was on the substantive issues that we make sure workers are getting not just fair wages but competitive wages,” Lucas said.
Wise said the mayor has been receptive, but he believes the question of how taxpayer money is spent is an issue for all Kansas Citians.
“When folks don’t have the ability to vote on what their tax dollars is being spent on, that is an example of democracy not working with the everyday person,” Wise said.
Lucas said he hopes the different sides can ultimately work together on an agreement.
“I would love nothing more for us to say, look, we can all work together to get the best deal possible. The best deal available for the workers, for the Kansas City Royals, people impacted, people looking to come to the games,” Lucas said.
The Royals were not at Monday’s meeting.
Missouri Workers Power said it plans to continue organizing and hearing from as many people as possible.
Royals stadium deal heads to Kansas City Council committee Tuesday
The debate comes as the stadium proposal moves forward at City Hall.
Kansas City is looking to fast-track $20 million for the stadium.
The City Council’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider an ordinance that would authorize the city manager to execute several major agreements with the Royals for a stadium in the Washington Square Park and Crown Center area.
Those include a lease, development and funding agreements, a non-relocation agreement and a community impact partnership agreement.
The ordinance also provides the first specific piece of city financing for the project.
It would create a special stadium bond fund and authorize $20 million in bond proceeds. The city would use the food-and-beverage portion of its convention and tourism tax, as needed, to repay that debt.
The ordinance directs the city manager to review other possible funding sources for stadium-related costs.
Councilman Johnathan Duncan raised concerns Monday night about the potential cost and the speed of the process.
Duncan said the city manager sent council members a summary of the stadium agreement at 7:06 p.m. Monday and that the final agreements had not yet been completed.
“The Finance Committee is still set to vote to authorize the Manager to execute these agreements tomorrow morning,” Duncan wrote.
Duncan accused city leaders of rushing a “generational project” and described the city’s proposed contribution as a “$600M welfare check” for the Royals’ ownership.
Previous, future action on Royals stadium financing
That doesn’t mean the city immediately borrowed or spent $600 million.
Instead, the council set the stage for negotiations over how much Kansas City could ultimately contribute to the project.
The State of Missouri could also pick up a significant portion of the stadium’s cost.
The Royals plan to seek incentives through the Show-Me Sports Investment Act, a program Missouri lawmakers approved in 2025 to help keep the Royals and Chiefs in the state.
Under the program, Missouri could cover up to half of eligible stadium construction costs through state financing.