KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are no longer considering the Aspiria site at West 119th Street and Nall Avenue for the team’s new ballpark, as it no longer fits the team’s needs.
“As stated when the Aspiria mortgage was acquired, the investment was made to maintain the site as an option for a new Kansas City Royals stadium,” a Royals spokesperson said in a statement. “After significant evaluation, we do not believe this site meets our criteria for a stadium.”
The potential of a new stadium at the Aspiria site drew ire from Johnson County residents, who said traffic from a stadium would negatively affect neighborhoods, endanger children and slow response to the nearby hospital.
Kansas City Royals no longer considering Aspiria site for new ballpark
Building at the Aspiria site would have also meant the relocation of T-Mobile.
In December, T-Mobile said it was exploring other possibilities in Overland Park because the campus could not “accommodate both our workforce and a stadium,” noting a lease extension request past mid-2029 was denied.
With the news Aspiria is no longer on the table, T-Mobile said staying put is not out of the mix.
“The Kansas City area is home to T-Mobile and thousands of our employees and their families, and we intend to stay and grow here for years to come,” T-Mobile said in a statement. “We’re considering options in the area that will support that growth, including potential campus extensions.”
Many elements of the Royals’ future move have been up in the air for years, but the one constant has been that the team plans to leave Kauffman Stadium by 2031.
Earlier this month, Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington wrote a Facebook post stating he is done negotiating with the Royals.
While he was merely speaking for himself, leaders in North Kansas City declined to comment on the status of negotiations with the team.
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, remains in the running as well. KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas has made it clear wants to see the stadium built at Washington Square Park.
“Nothing changes for Kansas City with today’s news,” Lucas said Tuesday. “Kansas City will continue to work diligently and expeditiously with other public stakeholders, our community and the team to ensure Kansas City remains the home of the Royals in a new transformational downtown facility that is a responsible investment for our taxpayers, our region and our team.”
Keeping the Royals in Jackson County is top of mind for many KC leaders with the Chiefs leaving for Kansas.
Despite reports Washington Square Park is the front-runner, the Royals continue to keep an open mind.
“We continue to evaluate opportunities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to create a world-class ballpark district,” the Royals said. “As always, we hear and appreciate the input of our fans throughout the region.”
With about five years until the team’s intended departure, the Royals said they continue to “work toward the best solution for our team, fans, partners, and community.”
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