KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - After unsubstantiated rumors swirled this week that the Kansas City Royals would move to Overland Park, Kansas, club owner John Sherman led off his pre-Opening Day press conference refuting those claims.
“Whatever the source of that speculation, it didn’t come from us,” Sherman said. “When we have something to talk about, we’re going to be ready to talk about that.”
The Royals owner added that the team’s objective is to address a specific location in the middle of the calendar year, “in that June-July period.” Sherman said he would not comment on Washington Square Park in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, or the old Sprint campus in the area of 119th Street and Nall Avenue in Overland Park.
Sherman did reinforce that he didn’t think the Royals would play baseball at the Truman Sports Complex once the current lease expires in 2031. The Chiefs and Royals have played for over 50 years in side-by-side stadiums built in eastern Kansas City, drawing fans from both states in the split metropolitan area.
Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.
Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.(Kansas City Royals)
In April 2024, Jackson County voters rejected a 3/8 cent sales tax to move the Royals downtown and renovate Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas legislators saw that as an opportunity to lure the teams to Sunflower State with a bill.
Governor Laura Kelly signed the STAR Bonds bill to attract a professional sports team using the Sales Tax and Revenue Bonds to finance a major development such as a new stadium or practice facility.
In late February, local state lawmakers filed a bill in the Missouri Legislature that would incentivize retaining and attracting professional sports teams and entertainment venues under the Missouri Entertainment Facility -- Capital Assistance Program (MEF-CAP) Act.
Kansas City’s mayor expressed his support for the bill, stating that “the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs are Kansas City’s teams today and will remain Kansas City’s teams for generations to come.”
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