Kansas City Authorizes $600M Toward Royals Stadium at Crown Center

Overview

• The City Council voted 11-2 on Thursday to authorize execution of lease, development, funding and community-benefit agreements that formalize a $600 million city commitment to a $1.9 billion first-phase project.
• Under the agreements the stadium phase is budgeted at $1.9 billion with the Royals covering $760 million and public sources expected to provide about $1.14 billion, much of which the city plans to back with bonds repaid from redirected tax revenue in a yet-to-be-defined TIF district.
• Key next steps include a rezoning vote expected Sept. 3, formal TIF boundary decisions later in September, state funding applications, city-backed bond issuance and final approval from Major League Baseball before work can begin.
• Nearby residents and neighborhood groups have retained legal counsel and flagged possible lawsuits over construction impacts, access and loss of amenities, while activists fault the pace of city approvals and want the project placed on a public ballot.
• The agreements include community provisions such as at least $55 million in benefits, a $14 million One Percent for Art pledge tied to the FIFA Heart Gateway and plans for the Royals to fund design and improvements at Washington Square Park, though incorporation of the Heart Gateway is subject to mutual agreement.