KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Royals open at home on Monday, March 30, but Chairman and CEO John Sherman says Kauffman Stadium’s days are numbered.
Stadium: A Decision Is Coming – But Not Yet
Sherman confirmed the Royals will not extend their lease at Kauffman Stadium beyond its January 2031 expiration.
“That’s certainly not in the plan,” Sherman said. “Look, this is a beautiful place to play baseball, you know, the field has great sightlines, it’s a symmetrical ballpark, but it also – you know, the building will be 60 years old at the end of the decade when the lease is up. And I think I’d like to locate our next generational home in a place where we can build energy and vibrancy around it in a higher-density area.”
He pointed to Atlanta’s Truist Park as a model – describing an opening day atmosphere that felt like “college football gameday.”
“I really want to generate that type of excitement,” Sherman added. “There has to be a fallback position, but that would be kicking the can down the road from my perspective, and we will not have solved this. The objective that we have is to find that next generational home that will make sure the Royals and Major League Baseball are here for the next 50 years.”
Sherman said the team is making progress, but a final site has not been selected.
According to the CEO, three locations remain in play: The Kansas side of the state line, North Kansas City and Kansas City, Missouri.
“We’re getting closer, but we’re not done yet,” he confirmed. “And this is a – I say it all the time – these processes are complicated. They’re multijurisdictional public-private partnerships. It’s been my experience they’re not supposed to be easy when you’re doing important work. I never think it’s easy, but I think we’re – look its dangerous to set a deadline when you’re not in control of all the variables, but I feel like the pace is picking up, particularly since the Chiefs did make their decision. And I think – I’m hopeful we will be talking about this sooner rather than later.”
FILE – Royals CEO John Sherman(KCTV5)
The clock is ticking. With a 2031 opening target, the Royals need to break ground by September 2027. Sherman would like the construction timeline to last around 42 months.
The CEO said he is confident the team will secure a site and funding in time.
‘We’re Not Goin Anywhere’
Sherman pushed back firmly on fears that the Royals could leave the Kansas City metro.
“We’re not going anywhere from my perspective,” he said. “I think when we acquired the team, it was actually 2019 – when I walked around town, it wasn’t about – people didn’t say congratulations, they said thank you for keeping the boys here.”
Sherman acknowledged the anxiety that comes with being a mid-market sports city, citing the departures of the A’s, Kings and Kansas City’s own NHL franchise – the Scouts.
“So, I think no matter what you say, I think people feel that threat,” he added. “Those are other people talking about that, not me. My objective here – look, I love this city, I love this team, I love baseball. My objective here is to make sure that the Royals and Major League Baseball are here for the next 50 years and that they flourish here for the next 50 years.”
Fan Fatigue Is Real – Sherman Feels It Too
Sherman also acknowledged that years of stadium discussions have worn on fans.
“There is fatigue, right, but these things take time,” he said. “They normally take a lot longer than we’ve taken so far, believe it or not, because I think that fatigue – and we feel that as well, and I can tell it from fans. If you think about how the conversations have progressed over the last couple years, early on, it was about a strong opinion, ‘I want this, I want that.’ Now it’s like we want to know where were going and we’d like to get that behind us, and we feel the same way.”
Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.(KCTV5)
He called the process “generational” and said the team must be strategic to get it right.
Broadcasting: Prioritizing Reach Over Revenue
Sherman praised the team’s over-the-air partnership with KCTV5, saying that is when the Royals get “the most eyeballs.”
“And the fans love it, by the way, the fans love the over-the-air because they know it’s easy to find,” he added.
He acknowledged that the fragmented broadcast landscape has created confusion – noting fans texted him during the first series asking where to find the game.
“What we’re working on is that our sport – that we increase our reach, that we prioritize reach over revenue,” Sherman said. “And if we do that, the revenue will follow.”
He also pointed to reduced blackouts, more national over-the-air broadcasts and the MLB’s upcoming global media deal as positive signs for fan access.
World Baseball Classic Fuels Optimism
Sherman said the WBC gave the Royals – and baseball broadly – a significant boost heading into the season.
Kansas City was the No. 1 television market during the tournament, which Sherman said drew more viewers than the NBA Finals.
Venezuela Maikel Garcia reacts to his hit during the sixth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against the United States, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)(Rebecca Blackwell | AP)
Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia – who was named tournament MVP – all represented their home countries.
“I think we’re starting on a really high note,” Sherman said. “I think it’s great for baseball, and it’s done a lot for the Royals brand as well. But besides that, I think this team is kind of congealing and gelling in a way that’s going to be really exciting for the fans.”
He said the high-pressure tournament experience will pay dividends during the regular season and, he hopes, a postseason run.
“I think baseball players – yeah, that was a big stage and they stepped up and met the moment and I think that’s a big part of how teams develop and how players develop,” Sherman added. “‘Are you in high leverage pressure situations and how do you perform?’ – right. And because you’re going to have those – those things are going to happen all throughout the season, right, that you’re going to be in a tough spot, and then when we get – if and when we get to the postseason – it just takes it to another level and those guys were tasting it here in March, which was amazing.”
On the Field: Sherman Confident in Turnaround
Coming off an 82-80 record, Sherman said the organization has made significant strides over the past three years.
“There’s a lot of things that go into it, and really winning baseball games is our core business, and that’s the objective today to put one on the Twins on a beautiful day in Kansas City,” he noted.
The Royals open their home schedule at 3:10 p.m. on Monday against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium.
The lights are on for another opening day at The K. But, with the lease expiring in 2031 and a construction clock already ticking, the question is not whether the Royals will have a new home – it’s where.
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