The Kansas City Royals confirmed Wednesday that an affiliate purchased the mortgage on the Aspiria campus in Overland Park.The news, first reported by The Kansas City Business Journal, was confirmed by the team in a statement Wednesday afternoon.However, the statement also says the team has not selected a stadium location.”We have not yet decided on a site, and any assertion to the contrary is inaccurate,” the Royals said in part. “As part of our ongoing efforts, we have negotiated with or made investments in multiple potential sites – both in Missouri and in Kansas. One of these investments was the acquisition (by an affiliate of the Royals) of the mortgage on the Aspiria campus through an arms-length bidding process.”The Aspiria campus is located at 119th Street and Nall Avenue. It was home to the old Sprint Campus.The Business Journal reports it was sold on May 9 for “roughly $164 million.””We remain committed to finding a generational home for the Kansas City Royals that our fans, our team, our partners and associates, and our regional community can enjoy for decades to come,” the Royals’ statement concludes.Special session in Missouri begins next weekThe purchase, made earlier this month, became public hours after Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced a special session dedicated in part to stadium funding.Kehoe, who is in support of providing funding to both teams, made the session official on Tuesday.”This is two organizations that have businesses, employees, and a ripple effect on our state’s economy that we do not want to move to any other state,” Kehoe said on Tuesday.Kehoe’s proposed plan, which was approved in the Missouri House but not the Senate, would allow professional sports teams to access state funding through a bonding mechanism, requiring stadium projects to cost at least $500 million and have a seating capacity of at least 30,000.The state would cover 50% of stadium costs, and teams would be eligible for a tax credit of up to 10% on their investment.Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in a Facebook Q&A earlier this week, said the city plans to make an offer, but at the same time, be responsible in doing so.”What Kansas City is going to do is put forward a good offer, but we’re going to be responsible,” Lucas said. “We’re going to be responsible to our taxpayers. We’re going to make sure that we do something that is fiscally responsible. It’s responsible from an infrastructure perspective. And you know, we’re going to talk, we’re going to fight for them, but you know, we’re, we’re not beggars.”News comes after Aspiria representatives pushed back at March reportingAbout two months ago, representatives of Aspiria hit back after reports linked the Royals to Johnson County. “The is a lot of speculation out there. This is just a rumor, and we are not talking with the Royals about moving to the Aspiria campus.” said Chad Stafford, Occidental Management’s President, in a statement on March 25. Occidental Management manages and leases the 207-acre campus. In late March, 610 Sports reported that the Royals reached out to the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park about purchasing land as a potential site for a new stadium after their lease at Kauffman Stadium expires in 2031.This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —

The Kansas City Royals confirmed Wednesday that an affiliate purchased the mortgage on the Aspiria campus in Overland Park.

The news, first reported by The Kansas City Business Journal, was confirmed by the team in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

However, the statement also says the team has not selected a stadium location.

“We have not yet decided on a site, and any assertion to the contrary is inaccurate,” the Royals said in part. “As part of our ongoing efforts, we have negotiated with or made investments in multiple potential sites – both in Missouri and in Kansas. One of these investments was the acquisition (by an affiliate of the Royals) of the mortgage on the Aspiria campus through an arms-length bidding process.”

The Aspiria campus is located at 119th Street and Nall Avenue. It was home to the old Sprint Campus.

The Business Journal reports it was sold on May 9 for “roughly $164 million.”

“We remain committed to finding a generational home for the Kansas City Royals that our fans, our team, our partners and associates, and our regional community can enjoy for decades to come,” the Royals’ statement concludes.

Special session in Missouri begins next week

The purchase, made earlier this month, became public hours after Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced a special session dedicated in part to stadium funding.

Kehoe, who is in support of providing funding to both teams, made the session official on Tuesday.

”This is two organizations that have businesses, employees, and a ripple effect on our state’s economy that we do not want to move to any other state,” Kehoe said on Tuesday.

Kehoe’s proposed plan, which was approved in the Missouri House but not the Senate, would allow professional sports teams to access state funding through a bonding mechanism, requiring stadium projects to cost at least $500 million and have a seating capacity of at least 30,000.

The state would cover 50% of stadium costs, and teams would be eligible for a tax credit of up to 10% on their investment.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in a Facebook Q&A earlier this week, said the city plans to make an offer, but at the same time, be responsible in doing so.

”What Kansas City is going to do is put forward a good offer, but we’re going to be responsible,” Lucas said. “We’re going to be responsible to our taxpayers. We’re going to make sure that we do something that is fiscally responsible. It’s responsible from an infrastructure perspective. And you know, we’re going to talk, we’re going to fight for them, but you know, we’re, we’re not beggars.”

News comes after Aspiria representatives pushed back at March reporting

About two months ago, representatives of Aspiria hit back after reports linked the Royals to Johnson County.

“The is a lot of speculation out there. This is just a rumor, and we are not talking with the Royals about moving to the Aspiria campus.” said Chad Stafford, Occidental Management’s President, in a statement on March 25.

Occidental Management manages and leases the 207-acre campus.

In late March, 610 Sports reported that the Royals reached out to the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park about purchasing land as a potential site for a new stadium after their lease at Kauffman Stadium expires in 2031.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.