The mood in Kansas City is steady and honest. Fans love Kauffman. Fans also know the building is old. The failed vote in 2024 did not end the idea of a new ballpark. It changed the path. The story in 2025 is not another ballot. It is homework. It is site work, finance models, and quiet talks on both sides of the state line. The team keeps saying the goal is to stay in Kansas City. That promise matters. A new park needs years to plan and build. The lease runs through 2031, so there is time, but not time to waste. This year is about trust. Show a cleaner plan, show real numbers, show how the park fits the city and the fans who live with it.
Who Owns The Royals Now
John Sherman leads the group that owns the Royals. He is the face of this project and the person fans listen to when they try to read the next step. His message has been simple. Keep the club in Kansas City. Build a plan that can last. The group blends local voices and long view thinking. That mix is why the stadium push feels personal to the city. The team talks about a ballpark district that runs year round. That means homes, food, music, and space for kids. It also means cost and risk.
The calendar is a real thing. The lease at Kauffman runs through 2031. No one wants a panic sprint. No one wants drift either. That is why 2025 is set up as a planning year. Pick a site. Shape the deal. Listen better than last time. The club knows fans want clarity. They want proof that the team is building on the field while it builds a park off the field. That balance is hard. It is also the job.
“We are working to keep this team in Kansas City.” – John Sherman.
What A Realistic 2025 Financing Plan Looks Like
Fans keep asking for numbers that feel honest. The next plan has to look different from the one voters turned down. Three big moves are now on the table. First, more private funding from ownership and team partners. That can mean more equity up front and more risk on the club side. Second, a smaller local ask. That means a shorter term, a tighter rate, and clear caps on public costs. Third, a smarter use of state tools. That can include credits and bonds for roads, utilities, and site work, not just the park itself.
There are other knobs to turn. A ticket fee that rises on premium seats. A district fee that comes from future bars, hotels, and events. A share of naming rights paid up front to lower the public ask. A reserve fund that protects taxpayers if revenues dip. Clear labor standards. Local hiring. Real neighborhood input. The point is simple. The next plan must show who pays, when they pay, and what the city gets in return. It must be easy to read. It must be easy to audit. If the math is clean, the talk can turn from fear to pride.
Where The Ballpark Could Land And What 2026 Means
Site talk is still open. Downtown Kansas City is alive in the conversation because it connects the park to work and nightlife. North Kansas City remains real because it has land and energy. Sites in Kansas have also been in play because incentives and timelines there look different. The team has kept options moving to avoid a corner. That is smart negotiation. It also tests patience. The map will not shrink until the finance plan and the site plan fit together. The club needs both to be clear before it goes back to voters.
The likely window for a new public vote is 2026. That gives this year for design and deals and next year for public review and outreach. If the work is done right, the ballot can be simple. One site. One plan. A fair public share. A real private share. Clear benefits for neighbors. Timelines that match what builders can do. A park that keeps the fountains spirit while meeting modern needs. The baseball part matters too. Fans want to see a team that grows while the concrete gets poured. That is how trust is built. Win with a plan, win with a roster, win with the city beside you.
