KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Days after Kansas City council members approved the city’s funding plan for a new Royals ballpark at Crown Center, the city is bathed in blue in support of the deal.
Overnight Saturday into Sunday, landmarks like Crown Center pavilion, Union Station, the Kansas City Convention Center, and Bartle Hall were lit blue to mark the future of the Royals in downtown Kansas City.
The KC City Council agreed to help fund $600 million of the nearly $2 billion stadium.
On Thursday, council members passed a funding plan that would use $560 million in bonds to help pay for the city’s share.
The bonds would be repaid through a Tax Increment Financing district at the stadium and a larger stadium impact area expanding out around the stadium.
Certain taxes inside the area would be partially collected pay for the bonds, as well.
With interest, the city expects to spend nearly $1.4 billion paying off the bonds over the next 30 years.
Royals owner John Sherman said he expects to start demolition at Crown Center in early 2027. Sherman plans to open the stadium for the 2030 MLB season.