Kansas City Royals Building $3B Downtown Ballpark by 2031

Baseball is coming home to downtown Kansas City in what may be the most ambitious urban revitalization project in the city's history.

The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday they're building a $1.9 billion state-of-the-art ballpark at Crown Center, partnering with hometown company Hallmark Cards on an 85-acre mixed-use development. The new stadium will break ground next year and welcome fans by 2031, when the team's lease at Kauffman Stadium expires.

Owner John Sherman joined Hallmark chairman Don Hall Jr., Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas to unveil the plan near Hallmark headquarters. The project represents a rare collaboration between two of Kansas City's most treasured institutions.

The financing model sets a new standard for stadium development. Two-thirds of the $1.9 billion cost will come from private sources, with only one-third from public partners. Kansas City officials approved negotiating $600 million in public support, while Missouri's contribution comes from bonds authorized specifically for stadium projects.

The location offers something most modern ballparks lack: instant connection to city life. The site sits just south of Washington Square Park and Union Station, linked by streetcar to the Power & Light District. Fans will see downtown Kansas City's skyline beyond the outfield fence, with abundant parking and highway access already in place.

Hallmark plans to build its new headquarters as part of the development, cementing the area as a hub where people live, work, and play. The project transforms underutilized land into a vibrant neighborhood that will buzz with activity 365 days a year, not just during baseball season.

The Ripple Effect

This project rewrites the playbook for stadium development in America. While 49 of 60 MLB and NFL stadiums sit on public land or receive public ownership, the Royals' deal shifts the majority of financial responsibility to private investors. That means more money stays in public coffers for schools, roads, and services.

The 85-acre development will create thousands of construction jobs starting next year and permanent positions once complete. Governor Kehoe emphasized the ripple effects will reach far beyond Kansas City, benefiting rural Missouri through increased economic activity and tourism.

The timing feels right for Kansas City. After voters rejected a stadium tax extension in April 2024, both the Royals and Chiefs had to chart new paths forward. While the Chiefs chose Kansas, the Royals doubled down on Missouri with a smarter, more collaborative approach that honors both fiscal responsibility and civic pride.

Sherman pointed to Atlanta's Truist Park and The Battery as inspiration, but this project exceeds that model in scale and urban integration. Kansas City is getting more than a ballpark—it's getting a neighborhood that will serve the community long after the final out of every season.

The partnership between the Royals and Hallmark shows what's possible when beloved local institutions invest in their hometown's future together.