City passes $600M Royals downtown stadium plan
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The proposed Washington Square Park site downtown. Photo: Courtesy of BNIM
City Council on Thursday voted 11-1, with one abstaining, in favor of an incentive package up to $600 million aimed at bringing the Royals downtown.
Why it matters: The ordinance, backed by major downtown stakeholders, opens a path to funding nearly a third of a new $1.9 billion stadium at Washington Square Park.
What's inside: City staff will look at issuing bonds that would be repaid yearly by the city over the next three decades.
- It's not an unconditional subsidy; it's contingent on reaching a broader lease and development deal with the Royals that could include infrastructure upgrades and additional development.
- The city would account for the payments with tax increment financing (TIF), using future taxes generated from the ballpark district.
- All of this is subject to future City Council approvals.
Friction point: Advocates opposed to the ordinance have accused the city of giving a handout to the Royals, saying the package would pull funding from the city budget, which faced a $100 million shortfall for fiscal year 2026-2027.
The other side: Proponents have said the stadium and surrounding new development would generate revenue that could add to the city's funds.
Flashback: The city in 2006 executed a TIF plan to provide nearly $300 million for the Power & Light District.
- Taxes generated from the district have not kept up with annual payments, requiring the city to set aside millions from the general fund each year.
What they're saying: "We don't want to draw on our general fund" for the potential bond payments, city manager Mario Vasquez said, adding "We are really building conservatism" into tax revenue projections.
- The city is basing tax assumptions on current revenue generated by Kauffman Stadium, the Kansas City Business Journal reports.
What we're watching: A lawsuit challenging Missouri's Show-Me Sports Investment Act, which could give the Royals up to 50% of the cost of a stadium, was appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court in February. No ruling has yet been issued.