KC Mayoral Plan Eyes Downtown Royals Ballpark at Washington Square Park

Mayor Quinton Lucas will push a plan to negotiate a 30-year lease for a $1.9 billion Royals ballpark opening in 2030 at Washington Square Park, with about $600 million in city funding via bonds, appropriations and TIF and potential state/county support. The measure requires no public vote and would head to the Board of Parks and Recreation for approval. Royals ownership has not publicly endorsed it. The site between Main and Grand (north of Pershing Road), near Union Station and Crown Center, would not require major demolitions and offers about 19,000 parking spots within a 10-minute walk; Aspiria Campus in Overland Park has been ruled out as a site option.