Public funds from city and state sources would contribute 60% of the cost for the Crown Center stadium, possibly through tax-exempt bonds. The Royals will have “no obligation to repay or otherwise support payment of” those bonds, leaving the city to cover any shortfalls.
It took less than 20 minutes. In what has been a contentious, months-long back and forth between city leaders, workers’ groups and residents, the Kansas City Council passed 165 pages of stadium agreements by an 11-2 vote Thursday afternoon, pushing the new downtown stadium one stop closer to opening in 2030.
The project would reconfigure the iconic Crown Center neighborhood, including Hallmark’s corporate headquarters, into what supporters hope will be a hub of entertainment, retail and tourist activity anchored by a state-of-the-art stadium for the Kansas City Royals.
KCUR | By Cassandra Isobelle Flores, Brandon Azim, Laura Ziegler
Published August 20, 2026 at 3:16 PM CDT