NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – One day after the Kansas City Royals announced they had moved on from their final Kansas ballpark option, it appears voters north of the river won’t vote on a stadium funding deal this spring either.
In early January, Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington announced he was “done negotiating” with “the business of baseball.” He said the county worked all summer to come to an agreement on a Northland ballpark, but the Royals repeatedly failed to meet their deadlines.
“At some point, you stop negotiating,” Withington said at the time.
On Wednesday, Clay County released an official statement saying the issue would not be on an April ballot for voters to consider.
“For nearly three years, the Clay County Commission has engaged in discussions with the ownership of the Kansas City Royals regarding the potential relocation of the team to Clay County,” the county began.
The statement goes on to explain that the Royals did not accept Clay County’s proposal by the final deadline of Jan. 8, 2026, so it cannot be on the April ballot.
This leaves the Royals with their proposition to move to Jackson County or the option to stay at the Truman Sports Complex — for the time being.
The team’s lease at the complex is up in 2031, and they have previously expressed that they do not plan to stay beyond then.
Missouri lawmakers are considering a Senate bill that would authorize Clay County to create a sports complex authority.(KCTV5)Read the rest of the statement:
“Over the course of this process, the County’s negotiating team developed what we believe to be a strong and competitive proposal, one designed to support a successful Royals franchise in Clay County alongside a complementary dining and entertainment district, while also protecting the financial interests of Clay County taxpayers.
The most recent phase of negotiations was structured to align with the Royals’ desired timeline, allowing a finalized proposal to be placed on the April ballot. Meeting that timeline would have required acceptance of the County’s proposal by January 8th 2026, thereby allowing sufficient time for public input and a formal vote by the Commission to place the measure before voters. The Royals elected not to accept the County’s proposal within that timeframe. As a result, no proposal will be presented to the public for a vote this April.
Clay County residents can be confident that their Commission will always negotiate with their best interests as the top priority. The County did not and will not engage in a bidding competition with other jurisdictions. Our focus remains on achieving fair, responsible, and mutually beneficial agreements for our residents and for any businesses seeking to invest in Clay County.”
Clay County Commissioner Jay Johnson told KCTV5 that because this proposal is not going forward, it does not mean one can’t in the future. He made it clear, however, that the Royals would need to start up those conversations again, as there are no negotiations at this time between Clay County and the ball club.
Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota sent KCTV5 a statement regarding the talks between the county and the organization.
“With the news of Clay and Johnson Counties being out of the mix for a new ballpark, conversations with Jackson County and organization remain ongoing. I’m confident that the Royals will stay in Jackson County.”
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