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Royals ballpark designers want fans out of their cars

Kauffman Stadium ranked last in MLB for walkability. The Royals' new downtown ballpark is designed for fans who walk, bike or take the streetcar.

News

The Royals and design firm Populous want fans to walk, bike or take the streetcar to the new downtown stadium, a major shift from the current game-day experience.Why it matters: Kauffman Stadium ranked last in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2025 study of MLB stadium walkability" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/27/petco-park-walkability-walk-score-east-vilalge" data-vars-content-id="0f9b3027-1d90-4c44-b15c-59dee2e194e5" data-vars-headline="Royals ballpark designers want fans out of their cars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/03/27/petco-park-walkability-walk-score-east-vilalge" target="_self">2025 study of MLB stadium walkability</a>, and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2019 ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hub/news/the-smart-growth-america-ballpark-championship/" data-vars-content-id="0f9b3027-1d90-4c44-b15c-59dee2e194e5" data-vars-headline="Royals ballpark designers want fans out of their cars" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/knowledge-hub/news/the-smart-growth-america-ballpark-championship/" target="_blank">2019 ranking</a> found it had the league&#x27;s worst transit connections. Royals leaders say the new ballpark will change that.

Missouri ballot questions reignite issues decided by voters

Here's a breakdown of each question in Missouri and Kansas.

Politics

A number of ballot questions may look familiar to Missouri voters who already had their say on the issues at hand.Why it matters: Voters will decide on abortion access, state taxes, which congressional map to use going forward and more in the November election.

ACA coverage drops on both sides of the state line

Kansas and Missouri lost more than 120,000 paying ACA enrollees as premiums went up.

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Axios-Ipsos poll" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/13/axios-ipsos-poll-medicare-for-all-support-surges" data-vars-content-id="ab692072-2950-4be8-9393-639fbe0e84b8" data-vars-headline="ACA coverage drops on both sides of the state line" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/13/axios-ipsos-poll-medicare-for-all-support-surges" target="_self">new Axios-Ipsos poll</a> finds two-thirds of Americans want the federal government to spend more to lower health costs, and if you buy your own insurance in Kansas or Missouri, you&#x27;ve likely felt why.Why it matters: Kansas and Missouri lost more than 120,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees this year as premiums soared. Two weeks before the midterms, Americans say they&#x27;d back candidates who would lower costs.

Green paint is trending in KC and nationwide

Big paint companies named their top 2027 colors.

Culture

Next year&#x27;s paint palette is getting greener and more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adventurous" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/01/playroom-custom-cost" data-vars-content-id="d46050f5-bfe2-4e85-9566-21ab11eef7fd" data-vars-headline="Green paint is trending in KC and nationwide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/01/playroom-custom-cost" target="_self">adventurous</a>.The big picture: Paint companies Behr, Valspar and Sherwin-Williams recently named their picks for the next big hues in home design.

KC hopes park construction closing I-670 spurs more funding

Constructing one block of Roy Blunt Luminary Park will close a portion of I-670 for almost two years.

Construction will begin this winter to build one block of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roy Blunt Luminary Park" data-vars-click-url="https://luminarypark.org/" data-vars-content-id="39f167b8-7ea7-46b1-bf57-80d1a469750f" data-vars-headline="KC hopes park construction closing I-670 spurs more funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://luminarypark.org/" target="_blank">Roy Blunt Luminary Park</a> over I-670, from Wyandotte to Baltimore. Why it matters: The project will close a portion of the interstate for almost two years in order to build a fraction of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="full concept" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/15/an-inclusive-playground-will-be-built-over-i-670-downtown" data-vars-content-id="39f167b8-7ea7-46b1-bf57-80d1a469750f" data-vars-headline="KC hopes park construction closing I-670 spurs more funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/15/an-inclusive-playground-will-be-built-over-i-670-downtown" target="_self">full concept</a>, a step leaders hope will help fund the rest of it.

104-year-old building gets new life as cafe, apartments

Remedy Cafe and Bar offers a new breakfast and lunch option for downtowners.

A new coffee shop downtown is part of the historic redevelopment of a building more than a century old.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Remedy Cafe and Bar" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594087629451" data-vars-content-id="9d2d3054-30c5-4bd3-a3aa-a616ebabf2d5" data-vars-headline="104-year-old building gets new life as cafe, apartments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61594087629451" target="_blank">Remedy Cafe and Bar</a> offers a new breakfast and lunch option for downtown workers and residents, while 44 new apartments above chip away at KC&#x27;s housing demand.

Final Royals stadium hurdles cleared, Mayor Lucas says

City Council members also took up late-night alcohol and a housing project.

City Council moved the downtown Royals stadium forward with three new ordinances that addressed financing and zoning for its Crown Center site.The big picture: The stadium was the hottest issue at Thursday&#x27;s meeting, but that&#x27;s not all that happened.

KC looks to sports to grow its economy

A bigger CPKC Stadium, a Women's World Cup bid and $185 million in public money.

Kansas City&#x27;s leaders want to turn one <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/15/kansas-city-the-soccer-capital-of-america
" data-vars-content-id="325f5b27-f7cf-4d19-afcf-b66504e4405a" data-vars-headline="KC looks to sports to grow its economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/15/kansas-city-the-soccer-capital-of-america
" target="_self">World Cup summer</a> into a lasting economic strategy with a bigger CPKC Stadium, a bid for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2031 Women&#x27;s World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/12/02/2031-womens-world-cup-hosting" data-vars-content-id="325f5b27-f7cf-4d19-afcf-b66504e4405a" data-vars-headline="KC looks to sports to grow its economy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/12/02/2031-womens-world-cup-hosting" target="_self">2031 Women&#x27;s World Cup</a> and a push to bring companies and people to town.Why it matters: The World Cup gave KC a global stage. Local business and sports leaders now want to turn that burst of attention into long-term growth through sports investment, corporate recruitment and another international tournament.

Royals stadium funding plan details costs, timeline

The Royals are approaching the final hurdles to a downtown stadium.

Details have emerged on how Kansas City plans to pay for its $600 million commitment to the Royals&#x27; new stadium: borrow most of it and repay the debt with a multi-layered tax strategy hinging on the ballpark district&#x27;s performance. Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long-debated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/07/kansas-royals-chiefs-stadium-deadline" data-vars-content-id="215840c7-969d-4ddb-a7eb-5a7d087d0119" data-vars-headline="Royals stadium funding plan details costs, timeline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/07/kansas-royals-chiefs-stadium-deadline" target="_self">long-debated</a> stadium is moving closer to construction, with a timeline and builders selected even as the city works through the final details of how to pay its $600 million commitment.

A bridge over Brush Creek will lead pedestrians to MLK Park

The project is at least five years in the making after the park opened in 2021.

Officials on Wednesday broke ground on a pedestrian bridge project that will connect residents north of Brush Creek to Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Why it matters: The park is on the south side of Brush Creek, and the only way to get there is by car or using sidewalks along busy and dangerous roadways.

Mizzou's $250M stadium project closes the bowl

The Tigers are racing to keep a competitive edge in sports facilities.

Mizzou football is celebrating 100 years of Memorial Stadium this year with a new north end zone and high-end seating. Why it matters: It&#x27;s the school&#x27;s second completed stadium project in less than a decade as the Tigers race to keep a competitive edge in sports facilities.

Historic Brookside school's demolition plan halted

Redevelopment plans are in limbo due to a new city preservation commissioner.

A Brookside school building more than a century old could be saved from the wrecking ball after an under-the-radar filing by a new city preservation commissioner. Why it matters: The move seeks to block efforts by Kansas City Public Schools, which wants to sell the shuttered <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bryant Elementary School" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcpublicschools.org/page/bryant-site-page/" data-vars-content-id="d6eb5be8-fac9-4d85-8396-4c331772949d" data-vars-headline="Historic Brookside school&#x27;s demolition plan halted" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcpublicschools.org/page/bryant-site-page/" target="_blank">Bryant Elementary School</a> building so it can be torn down and turned into big houses.

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

City council approved agreements on community benefits, construction and financing.

The Royals&#x27; downtown stadium is another step closer after City Council on Thursday approved a package of agreements on community benefits, construction and financing. Why it matters: Public documents shed light on what the Royals are promising the city, including funds to address homelessness and benefit public art.

Development 🏗️

Royals ballpark designers want fans out of their cars

KC hopes park construction closing I-670 spurs more funding

104-year-old building gets new life as cafe, apartments

Final Royals stadium hurdles cleared, Mayor Lucas says

KC looks to sports to grow its economy