Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said conversations to bring the Royals to downtown KC are ongoing, and he thinks they’ll continue to go well. “We are not losing the Kansas City Royals,” Lucas said. “They will be here. I hope they play in Kansas City, Missouri. I hope they play in downtown Kansas City. But the Royals will be here, and we will make sure that work gets done.”Lucas spoke to reporters days after an iconic Kansas City landmark lit up blue in support of downtown baseball. In a post to X, Union Station threw its support behind a ballpark in downtown KC.The gesture brought in more than 300,000 views on X. The post is an important endorsement, considering the only site the Royals have acknowledged to be currently considering in downtown Kansas City is right across the street from Union Station. On the other side of Main Street lies Washington Square Park, a stretch of grass the Royals have publicly floated as a possible stadium site. “We’re just saying welcome to downtown,” said Union Station CEO George Guastello. “It’s our home, and we’d love to have you down here.”In 2024, voters rejected a stadium tax that would have led to the Royals building a downtown ballpark in the Crossroads neighborhood. Lucas sees the Washington Square Park opportunity as a much more popular choice for several reasons. “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, which is something very exciting.”Lucas added that the site is along the Streetcar Line and sits close to two different highways, Highway 71 and I-35.Gib Kerr, the immediate past chairman of the Downtown Kansas City Council, has been a strong proponent of downtown baseball. “Everybody I talk to wants downtown baseball,” Kerr said.Kerr sees it as a transformative project for downtown and one that makes the most sense for the Royals. “It’s the highest concentration of hotels, bars, restaurants and cultural attractions in the entire metro area,” Kerr said. “So, a baseball stadium in that location unquestionably would provide the best fan experience, but also the best visitor experience for people coming to Kansas City.”The site could leave something to be desired in terms of size, but Lucas said he believes the land would give the Royals a chance to build out an entertainment district, as well. “I think that, you know, all the sites that have been discussed within Kansas City proper absolutely provide the opportunity for the team to generate revenues very adjacent to the stadium,” Lucas said. Publicly, Washington Square Park is one of three sites the Royals have shown interest in. Recently, North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith acknowledged there has been a frustrating lack of communication with the Royals and their interest in a potential ballpark in his city.“I don’t want to make light of the fact that they are making a multibillion-dollar decision,” Smith said. “We haven’t heard anything yet, and that’s frustrating. Again, acknowledging this is a big, big decision.”Across the state line, the Aspiria Park at 119th Street and Nall Avenue has been a point of interest for a potential ballpark. However, neighbors have spoken out against the development, citing the impact on traffic and proximity to hospitals and schools. As of right now, the Royals do have a quickly approaching deadline. Kansas lawmakers have established Dec. 31, 2025, as the final chance for the Royals to come to an agreement on STAR bond funding with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Lucas said he believes everyone — the Royals, Kansas Citians and anyone else in the conversation — is ready to get to a resolution. “What I can promise is this: 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,” Lucas said. “It’s going to be a responsible one, so taxpayers aren’t blindsided after the fact. And frankly, so that we’re still funding the important basic services that people rely on in Kansas City proper.”Lucas agreed it’s up to the team to decide, but he’s hoping to see that resolution in the next few months.”We’re ready to move at the speed of light, frankly, and certainly, looking at hoping to have something done,” Lucas said. “I’ll just say I’d love to have something done before spring training starts.”The Royals’ first Spring Training matchup is Feb. 20.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said conversations to bring the Royals to downtown KC are ongoing, and he thinks they’ll continue to go well.

“We are not losing the Kansas City Royals,” Lucas said. “They will be here. I hope they play in Kansas City, Missouri. I hope they play in downtown Kansas City. But the Royals will be here, and we will make sure that work gets done.”

Lucas spoke to reporters days after an iconic Kansas City landmark lit up blue in support of downtown baseball. In a post to X, Union Station threw its support behind a ballpark in downtown KC.

The gesture brought in more than 300,000 views on X. The post is an important endorsement, considering the only site the Royals have acknowledged to be currently considering in downtown Kansas City is right across the street from Union Station.

On the other side of Main Street lies Washington Square Park, a stretch of grass the Royals have publicly floated as a possible stadium site.

“We’re just saying welcome to downtown,” said Union Station CEO George Guastello. “It’s our home, and we’d love to have you down here.”

In 2024, voters rejected a stadium tax that would have led to the Royals building a downtown ballpark in the Crossroads neighborhood. Lucas sees the Washington Square Park opportunity as a much more popular choice for several reasons.

“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, which is something very exciting.”

Lucas added that the site is along the Streetcar Line and sits close to two different highways, Highway 71 and I-35.

Gib Kerr, the immediate past chairman of the Downtown Kansas City Council, has been a strong proponent of downtown baseball.

“Everybody I talk to wants downtown baseball,” Kerr said.

Kerr sees it as a transformative project for downtown and one that makes the most sense for the Royals.

“It’s the highest concentration of hotels, bars, restaurants and cultural attractions in the entire metro area,” Kerr said. “So, a baseball stadium in that location unquestionably would provide the best fan experience, but also the best visitor experience for people coming to Kansas City.”

The site could leave something to be desired in terms of size, but Lucas said he believes the land would give the Royals a chance to build out an entertainment district, as well.

“I think that, you know, all the sites that have been discussed within Kansas City proper absolutely provide the opportunity for the team to generate revenues very adjacent to the stadium,” Lucas said.

Publicly, Washington Square Park is one of three sites the Royals have shown interest in.

Recently, North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith acknowledged there has been a frustrating lack of communication with the Royals and their interest in a potential ballpark in his city.

“I don’t want to make light of the fact that they are making a multibillion-dollar decision,” Smith said. “We haven’t heard anything yet, and that’s frustrating. Again, acknowledging this is a big, big decision.”

Across the state line, the Aspiria Park at 119th Street and Nall Avenue has been a point of interest for a potential ballpark.

However, neighbors have spoken out against the development, citing the impact on traffic and proximity to hospitals and schools.

As of right now, the Royals do have a quickly approaching deadline. Kansas lawmakers have established Dec. 31, 2025, as the final chance for the Royals to come to an agreement on STAR bond funding with the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Lucas said he believes everyone — the Royals, Kansas Citians and anyone else in the conversation — is ready to get to a resolution.

“What I can promise is this: 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,” Lucas said. “It’s going to be a responsible one, so taxpayers aren’t blindsided after the fact. And frankly, so that we’re still funding the important basic services that people rely on in Kansas City proper.”

Lucas agreed it’s up to the team to decide, but he’s hoping to see that resolution in the next few months.

“We’re ready to move at the speed of light, frankly, and certainly, looking at hoping to have something done,” Lucas said. “I’ll just say I’d love to have something done before spring training starts.”

The Royals’ first Spring Training matchup is Feb. 20.