Kansas City Royals: 3 impacts selling of team would have on future

1. Move to downtown looking inevitable

The Kansas City Royals will likely remain at Kauffman Stadium until the current lease ends in 2031 but discussions have already occurred to potentially move the team closer to downtown. David Glass has listened to several pitches for 12 to 14 acres of land needed for a new stadium and it’s long been rumored that they would like to have developments surrounding the ballpark.

The Harry S. Truman Sports Complex is home to both the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals but is located approximately 8 miles from the city’s center. The idea would be the have a ballpark similar to Baltimore’s Camden Yards or Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Neighboring restaurants and hotels would certainly profit due to the ballpark’s downtown location.

While that’s a nice idea in theory, another factor that need to be considered with a downtown ballpark is transportation. As a resident of Chicago, it’s nearly impossible to park near Wrigley Field without paying a steep price. Many people rely on public transportation to reach and leave the ballpark.

"Going downtown is Major League Baseball’s new look, and the promise of it has had hearts pounding in these parts for years. When the leases expire in 2031, the twin stadiums will be 60 years old. That’s awfully long in the tooth, and it makes the prospect of another extensive renovation questionable. – KC Star"

One location that Glass had apparently liked was already shot down as a future home for the Royals, which would have resided them in the Power and Light District making the use of the city’s streetcars more attractive for gameday use.