Royals Stadium renderings released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KQTV) -- The path is getting even clearer for the Royals as renderings of a new downtown stadium were released Tuesday.

The Kansas City City Council's Finance Committee unanimously endorsed and approved ordinances introduced by Mayor Quinton Lucas authorizing the agreements to keep the Royals in Kansas City for at least the next 30 years.

The agreement would include the building of a new downtown stadium and events venue, with the park opening in April 2030. It would also retain the global headquarters of Hallmark Cards and would reimage the Crown Center area.

“Today is a home run for Kansas City. The Royals and Hallmark downtown will bring millions of people to our city core, build thousands of jobs in the heart of our region, and will extend benefits to every corner of Kansas City and our area,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Rising cities retain their teams, retain key businesses and jobs, ensure great wages, and take care of the basics.  This August, Kansas City has authorized billions of dollars into infrastructure, millions into affordable housing, and historic preservation, and ensures today that we can walk and chew gum—building a better life for every Kansas Citian and making sure our city is a place people want to come and want to be."

The agreements mark the beginning of one of the largest economic development projects in Kansas City history.

In addition to an update to the Crown Center area, the project would bring tens of thousands of jobs and millions of visitors to Downtown Kansas City.

In a news release, the City said the developments would provide benefits to Kansas City youth sports, the arts community and the City's Negro Leagues baseball heritage.

The City also said the agreement would differ from the prior Jackson County lease to better protect taxpayers by using revenues from the project and shifting costs currently borne by Jackson County taxpayers, like maintenance and insurance costs, to the team.

The news release also states that the Royals will hold the Kansas City Public Schools harmless and have committed to paying the best wages for any regional professional sports franchise for service workers and have agreed to terms for higher wages with the Service Employees International Union.

In addition, the news release also states that the agreement will receive full Council approval on Thursday, Aug. 20. The zoning authorization will appear before full Council on Thursday, Sept. 3.