Royals Owner John Sherman Still Eyeing Downtown, But Stadium Decision Remains Up in the Air
SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Kansas City Royals are back on the field in Arizona, but off the field, the long-running stadium saga continues - and fans are still waiting for clarity.
Royals owner John Sherman, speaking Monday at spring training while catching up with fans, made it clear he still prefers a downtown location for the team’s next ballpark. But even with that preference, Sherman emphasized that no final decision has been made.
“I still have a bias for baseball being in the heart of the city, in the cultural center of our city,” Sherman said. “And to have the ability to make it better.”
That “heart of the city” vision has been central to Sherman’s stadium philosophy from the beginning - a ballpark that’s not just a venue, but a catalyst for community, culture, and connection. But after years of renderings, proposals, and shifting timelines, fans are understandably growing restless. Sherman acknowledged as much, noting the frustration that’s built up around the uncertainty.
“If that happens, that’s going to be best for the community and the city at large,” he added. “But we have to make sure we make the right long-term decision for the club as well.”
That’s the balancing act Sherman and the Royals' leadership are trying to navigate: finding a site that energizes the fan base, benefits the city, and sets up the franchise for long-term success - all while keeping the process from dragging on much longer.
Meanwhile, the team is getting down to business on the field. Monday marked the Royals’ first full-squad workout of the spring - about two and a half hours of drills, reps, and early-season chemistry building. The key names were all there, the ones fans expect to see leading the charge this season and, eventually, playing in a new home.
But the backdrop to this season still includes a big question mark. Despite multiple concept unveilings and public discussions, the Royals have yet to lock in a site for the new stadium. And with each passing month, the pressure builds - not just to make a decision, but to get it right.
Sherman didn’t shy away from that pressure. He knows the clock is ticking, and the fan base wants more than just ideas - they want a plan.
For now, the Royals will keep preparing for the season in Surprise, while the stadium question looms in the background. And until a final decision is made, the only thing certain is that Kansas City’s next ballpark remains a work in progress.