Advocates on both sides packed City Hall yesterday. Photo: Courtesy of Missouri Workers Center
Kansas City's Finance Committee voted yesterday to send a downtown Royals stadium ordinance to the full City Council.
Why it matters: The vote keeps alive a plan to issue $600 million in bonds toward a new ballpark at Washington Square Park, without a public vote.
Zoom in: The ordinance doesn't finalize a deal; it authorizes the city to begin negotiations and spend up to $250,000 on pre-development costs.
Neither the Royals nor the state of Missouri has committed funding yet.
What they're saying: Opponents packed the hearing, arguing the city is bypassing voters who rejected a similar proposal in 2024.
Advocates for low-wage workers said the city should focus on funding affordable housing, schools and public transit instead.
The other side: Building trades unions and downtown business groups argued the project would generate construction jobs and long-term economic activity that would benefit the whole city.
