The Kansas City Royals have finalized plans for a new $3 billion stadium and mixed-use development in downtown Kansas City, marking one of the most significant infrastructure shifts in Major League Baseball in recent years.
The team announced that the project will be built at Crown Center, abandoning earlier plans to develop a stadium at Washington Square Park. The new development will span approximately 85 acres and include a modern ballpark surrounded by a “park-like central square,†integrating fountains and public spaces inspired by the city’s existing architectural identity.
A key feature of the project is a partnership with greeting card company Hallmark, which will relocate its headquarters within the development and become a central private-sector partner in the mixed-use district.
The financing structure includes up to $600 million in public funding already approved by the city council, with additional state support being pursued through Missouri’s Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The Royals and Hallmark are expected to contribute at least $2 billion in private investment, which would represent the largest private development commitment in the city’s history.
Team owner John Sherman said the project reflects a long-term vision to integrate the stadium into the urban core, emphasizing accessibility through public transport and proximity to downtown employment and residential areas.
The move also comes amid broader stadium development activity in the region. The Kansas City Chiefs are advancing their own $3 billion domed stadium project across the state line in Kansas, highlighting an ongoing competitive dynamic between Missouri and Kansas over major sports infrastructure.
City officials, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, framed the Royals’ decision as a major economic and cultural milestone, positioning the development as part of a broader downtown revitalization strategy.
The new stadium is expected to break ground in 2027, with an opening targeted for 2031, coinciding with the expiration of the team’s lease at Kauffman Stadium. While conceptual designs have been released, team officials noted that final architectural plans are still in development.
The project marks the end of years of uncertainty over the Royals’ long-term home and signals a major shift toward large-scale, mixed-use sports districts as a defining trend in North American stadium development.