Officials say they're done negotiating with the Royals
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The clock on Kauffman Stadium is ticking. Photo: Mikayla Schlosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Key politicians in Kansas and Clay County say they're done working with the Royals on a new stadium deal, taking at least two potential sites out of the mix.
Why it matters: The Royals' options are dwindling, upping the pressure to build downtown and fueling speculation that the team might leave KC.
Driving the news: Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) said Wednesday that the Royals asked for "wiggle room" after the Dec. 31 funding incentive deadline, KMBC reported. "We're moving on," Hawkins replied.
- "I loathe the business of baseball," Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington said Wednesday on X. "Like Kansas, I'm done negotiating with the Royals."
- The deadline to place stadium funding on Clay County's April 2026 ballot passed Thursday.
The Royals declined to comment. Spokesperson Sam Mellinger tells Axios that conversations are ongoing and that the Royals want the "best solution for the team, fans, and community."
Context: Locations across the metro, from Overland Park to North Kansas City and downtown KCMO, have been floated in past stadium talks.
- Jackson County officials are now the only local leaders publicly open to a deal.
The intrigue: After voters rejected a stadium proposal in 2024, Royals owner John Sherman's wife, Marny Sherman, said that the team wouldn't work with Jackson County again.
Yes, but: That was before voters recalled Jackson County Commissioner Frank White Jr., who wanted to reduce team funding.
- White's replacement, Phil LeVota, has signaled he is willing to offer teams more than White was.
Zoom in: The three downtown KC sites we know are up for grabs are Washington Square Park, the East Village near City Hall, and the old KC Area Transportation Authority site at 18th and Paseo.
Zoom out: Reddit users voiced concern this week that other cities could intensify efforts to lure the Royals.
- In July, Missouri state Sen. Kurtis Gregory (R-Saline County) said that both Nashville and Salt Lake City had contacted the team, FOX4 reported.
The bottom line: All eyes are on Jackson County to step up to the plate and keep the Royals in KC.