Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium was built specifically for baseball during an era when building [[Multi-purpose stadium|multisport "cookie-cutter" stadiums]] was commonplace. It is often held up along with [[Dodger Stadium]] (1962) in Los Angeles as one of the best examples of modernist ballpark design. It is currently the only stadium in the [[American League]] to be named after a person and is also one of eight stadiums in Major League Baseball that does not have a corporate-sponsored name. The stadium is the [[List of Major League Baseball stadiums|fifth-oldest stadium]] in the majors and has hosted the [[1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1973]] and the [[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2012 MLB All-Star Game]]s, along with Royals home games during the [[1980 World Series|1980]], [[1985 World Series|1985]], [[2014 World Series|2014]], and [[2015 World Series]]. Between 2007 and 2009, Kauffman Stadium underwent a $250 million renovation, which included updates and upgrades in fan amenities, a new Royals hall of fame area, and other updates throughout the facility.

Kauffman Stadium was built specifically for baseball during an era when building [[Multi-purpose stadium|multisport "cookie-cutter" stadiums]] was commonplace. It is often held up along with [[Dodger Stadium]] (1962) in Los Angeles as one of the best examples of modernist ballpark design. It is currently the only stadium in the [[American League]] to be named after a person and is also one of eight stadiums in Major League Baseball that does not have a corporate-sponsored name. The stadium is the [[List of Major League Baseball stadiums|fifth-oldest stadium]] in the majors and has hosted the [[1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1973]] and the [[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2012 MLB All-Star Game]]s, along with Royals home games during the [[1980 World Series|1980]], [[1985 World Series|1985]], [[2014 World Series|2014]], and [[2015 World Series]]. Between 2007 and 2009, Kauffman Stadium underwent a $250 million renovation, which included updates and upgrades in fan amenities, a new Royals hall of fame area, and other updates throughout the facility.

In 2022, the Royals announced intentions to build and open a new stadium before the team's lease agreement with [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson County]] expires at the end of the 2030 MLB season. In 2024, the team announced their intention for the stadium to be located in [[downtown Kansas City]]'s [[Crossroads, Kansas City|Crossroads district]]. The plan would involve displacing several small businesses that would be in the footprint of the stadium. In April 2024, Jackson County voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative to help fund the new stadium by a 16% margin.{{cite web |title=Where will your team's next ballpark be? What Royals can teach us about the future of MLB stadiums |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46030983/mlb-ballparks-future-stadiums-kansas-city-royals-downtown-suburbs-village-model |publisher=ESPN |access-date=1 September 2025}} A financial analysis of the new stadium plans estimates that the cost to taxpayers would be between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion.{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Secret memo reveals 'staggering' cost of new Royals stadium for Jackson County taxpayers |work=Kansas City Star |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article281055678.html }} As of June 2024, the team was considering relocating to [[Kansas City, Kansas]].{{cite web |url=https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/ |title=Royals open to new Kansas stadium if lawmakers approve STAR Bonds |first=Olivia |last=Johnson |date=June 8, 2024 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |language=en |website=fox4kc.com |publisher=Fox 4 KC |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615115442/https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/ |url-status=dead }} In April 2026, the Royals and [[Hallmark Cards]] announced that a new ballpark and entertainment district would be built at [[Crown Center]].{{cite web |last= Davis |first=JoBeth |title=Kansas City Royals, Hallmark Cards announce partnership for new downtown ballpark |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-hallmark-downtown-stadium-crown-center/71095482 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=22 April 2026}}

In 2022, the Royals announced intentions to build and open a new stadium before the team's lease agreement with [[Jackson County, Missouri|Jackson County]] expires at the end of the 2030 MLB season. In 2024, the team announced their intention for the stadium to be located in [[downtown Kansas City]]'s [[Crossroads, Kansas City|Crossroads district]]. The plan would involve displacing several small businesses that would be in the footprint of the stadium. In April 2024, Jackson County voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative to help fund the new stadium by a 16% margin.{{cite web |title=Where will your team's next ballpark be? What Royals can teach us about the future of MLB stadiums |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46030983/mlb-ballparks-future-stadiums-kansas-city-royals-downtown-suburbs-village-model |publisher=ESPN |access-date=1 September 2025}} A financial analysis of the new stadium plans estimates that the cost to taxpayers would be between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion.{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Secret memo reveals 'staggering' cost of new Royals stadium for Jackson County taxpayers |work=Kansas City Star |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article281055678.html }} As of June 2024, the team was considering relocating to [[Kansas City, Kansas]].{{cite web |url=https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/ |title=Royals open to new Kansas stadium if lawmakers approve STAR Bonds |first=Olivia |last=Johnson |date=June 8, 2024 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |language=en |website=fox4kc.com |publisher=Fox 4 KC |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615115442/https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/royals-exploring-new-stadium-in-kansas-after-recent-star-bond-discussions/ |url-status=dead }} In April 2026, the Royals and [[Hallmark Cards]] announced that a new ballpark and entertainment district would be built at [[Crown Center]] near [[Downtown Kansas City]].{{cite web |last= Davis |first=JoBeth |title=Kansas City Royals, Hallmark Cards announce partnership for new downtown ballpark |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-hallmark-downtown-stadium-crown-center/71095482 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=22 April 2026}}

==History==

==History==

On June 8, 2024, Sam Mellinger, the Royals' vice president of communications, said that the team is evaluating "all options that may be available with respect to a new stadium," and pointed to the [[Kansas Legislature]]'s upcoming vote to make changes to the state's Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds program to attract major sports teams to the state.{{cite news |last=Anstine |first=Jack |date=June 8, 2024 |title=Royals explore Kansas as potential home for new stadium |url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-explore-kansas-as-potential-home-for-new-stadium |work=KSHB |location=Kansas City, MO |access-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610180513/https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-explore-kansas-as-potential-home-for-new-stadium |url-status=live }}

On June 8, 2024, Sam Mellinger, the Royals' vice president of communications, said that the team is evaluating "all options that may be available with respect to a new stadium," and pointed to the [[Kansas Legislature]]'s upcoming vote to make changes to the state's Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds program to attract major sports teams to the state.{{cite news |last=Anstine |first=Jack |date=June 8, 2024 |title=Royals explore Kansas as potential home for new stadium |url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-explore-kansas-as-potential-home-for-new-stadium |work=KSHB |location=Kansas City, MO |access-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-date=June 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610180513/https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-explore-kansas-as-potential-home-for-new-stadium |url-status=live }}

In August 2024, ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' reported that the Royals were considering a new site for a downtown ballpark in Washington Square Park, an area located between [[Union Station (Kansas City)|Union Station]] and [[Crown Center]].{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article291020570.html |title=Royals, city of KC studying new downtown stadium site. Mayor Lucas wants to avoid vote |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |last=McDowell |first=Sam |date=August 14, 2024 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |language=en }}

In August 2024, ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' reported that the Royals were considering a new site for a downtown ballpark in Washington Square Park, an area located between [[Union Station (Kansas City)|Union Station]] and Crown Center.{{cite web |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article291020570.html |title=Royals, city of KC studying new downtown stadium site. Mayor Lucas wants to avoid vote |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |last=McDowell |first=Sam |date=August 14, 2024 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |language=en }}

In November 2024, the Royals reportedly were also examining "two or three" potential stadium sites in [[Johnson County, Kansas]].{{cite web |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-exploring-options-johnson-county-kansas/62886179|title=Royals reportedly exploring multiple stadium locations in Johnson County, Kansas|work=[[KMBC-TV]]|last=Sloan|first=Nick|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=November 13, 2024 |language=en }}

In November 2024, the Royals reportedly were also examining "two or three" potential stadium sites in [[Johnson County, Kansas]].{{cite web |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-exploring-options-johnson-county-kansas/62886179|title=Royals reportedly exploring multiple stadium locations in Johnson County, Kansas|work=[[KMBC-TV]]|last=Sloan|first=Nick|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=November 13, 2024 |language=en }}

On January 7, 2026, Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington said that he ended negotiations with the team referring to it as “a closed chapter.” Withington cited a number of reasons including missed deadlines by the Royals. {{cite web |last1= Godding |first1=Chloe |last2= Holyok |first2=Cody |title= Kansas lawmakers 'moving on' from Royals despite reported post-deadline inquiry |url= https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/nkc-royals-ballpark-negotiations-a-closed-chapter-county-commissioner/amp/ |website=Fox 4 News 9 |date=January 7, 2026 |publisher=fox4KC |access-date=7 January 2026}}

On January 7, 2026, Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington said that he ended negotiations with the team referring to it as “a closed chapter.” Withington cited a number of reasons including missed deadlines by the Royals. {{cite web |last1= Godding |first1=Chloe |last2= Holyok |first2=Cody |title= Kansas lawmakers 'moving on' from Royals despite reported post-deadline inquiry |url= https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/nkc-royals-ballpark-negotiations-a-closed-chapter-county-commissioner/amp/ |website=Fox 4 News 9 |date=January 7, 2026 |publisher=fox4KC |access-date=7 January 2026}}

On April 22, 2026, the Royals and [[Hallmark Cards]] announced a partnership to build a new ballpark at [[Crown Center]] near [[Downtown Kansas City]], at the current location of Hallmark's corporate headquarters.{{cite web |last= Davis |first=JoBeth |title=Kansas City Royals, Hallmark Cards announce partnership for new downtown ballpark |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-hallmark-downtown-stadium-crown-center/71095482 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=22 April 2026}}

On April 22, 2026, the Royals and [[Hallmark Cards]] announced a partnership to build a new ballpark and entertainment district at Crown Center near downtown Kansas City, at the current location of Hallmark's corporate headquarters.{{cite web |last= Davis |first=JoBeth |title=Kansas City Royals, Hallmark Cards announce partnership for new downtown ballpark |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-royals-hallmark-downtown-stadium-crown-center/71095482 |website=KMBC News 9 |date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Hearst Television |access-date=22 April 2026}}

==Features==

==Features==