The Kansas City Royals have worked on finding a new location for their future stadium all offseason, and they still don't have one. However, team owner John Sherman wants to finish the search as soon as possible, via Front Office Sports' Eric Fisher.
“We’re not settled yet anywhere, but I would tell you that I don’t think that we’re that far away,” Sherman said. “I’ve got a great sense of urgency on this. Time is not our friend. When the Chiefs made their announcement [to move to Kansas] in December, there was a whole new wave of enthusiasm on the Missouri side. And don’t mean they weren’t working hard [before], but from the governor on down, there’s a lot of effort being put forth.”
The Royals' lease at Kauffman Stadium ends after the 2030 season. Kauffman is part of the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Mo, which includes the Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium. However, the Chiefs reached a deal in December to build a stadium in Kansas for the 2031 NFL season, Front Office Sports.
The Royals are nearing a decision on a new ballpark as ownership grows frustrated with the lengthy process.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 17, 2026
“Time is not our friend,” team owner Sherman said, with pressure mounting after the Chiefs struck a deal in December to move to Kansas.
Kansas City Mayor Lobbies for Downtown Royals Stadium
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas is confident that the city will make a deal with the Royals to build a downtown stadium.
“We will get a deal done in 2026 that’s fair and transparent for our taxpayers, our future, and our team,” Lucas said in his annual State of the City address. “As part of our growth, our retention of the Kansas City Royals in the only home they’ve ever known, Kansas City, is a must.”
The Royals have been in Kauffman Stadium since 1973. It's named after former pharmaceutical executive Ewing Kauffman, who founded the franchise in 1969. The park was formerly named Royals Stadium.
The Royals are considering Washington Square Park for the new stadium site, a downtown Kansas City area located near Union Station, per MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Sherman admitted that he prefers downtown stadiums, per Rogers.
“This is a business, and we have to be open-minded about where to locate this, but I still have a bias for baseball being in the heart of the city, in the cultural center of the city, and to have the ability to make it better,” he said. “If that happens, that’s going to be best for the community and city at large. But we have to make sure we make the right long-term decision for the club as well.”
Kansas City starts its spring training slate against the Texas Rangers on Friday before facing the San Diego Padres on Saturday and the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.