Royals Stadium Talks Heat Up: Sherman Signals Urgency as Kansas City Pushes for Downtown Deal
SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Kansas City Royals are still weighing their options when it comes to their future home, but one thing is clear: the pressure is mounting, and the clock is ticking.
Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman spoke Monday during the team’s first full-squad workout at spring training in Surprise, and while he didn’t offer a concrete timeline, his tone made one thing clear - this is a priority, and momentum is building.
“We’re not settled yet anywhere,” Sherman said, “but I would tell you that I don’t think that we’re that far away.”
That sense of urgency has only grown since the Chiefs announced in December their intent to explore a move across state lines to Kansas. The ripple effect from that decision has been felt across the Missouri side, where political leaders - from the governor to city officials - have stepped up efforts to keep the Royals in the heart of Kansas City.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas made his position clear in his recent State of the City address, stating confidently that the city will get a deal done in 2026 for a downtown stadium. Lucas emphasized a deal that’s “fair and transparent for our taxpayers, our future and our team.”
Sherman took notice.
“I appreciate the mayor’s work and dedication,” Sherman said. “There’s a lot of effort being put forth, not only by the mayor but by the governor.”
Still, the Royals are keeping their options open. While the team has publicly ruled out the Aspiria campus in Overland Park, Sherman confirmed they’re still evaluating other Kansas locations.
On the Missouri side, the club has looked at sites ranging from Washington Square Park downtown to areas near Union Station and Crown Center. North Kansas City had been in the mix, but local leaders there have indicated that talks have ended.
This isn’t just a matter of picking a spot on the map. Sherman was candid about the complexity of the process.
“These are always hard, complicated processes,” he said. “None of them are short.
They’re multi-jurisdictional, public-private partnerships. They’re complicated.
But I think it’s time to get on with it.”
The Royals’ current lease at the Truman Sports Complex - home to Kauffman Stadium - runs through the 2030 season. That may seem like a comfortable runway, but in stadium years, that’s not much time.
Planning, approvals, funding, and construction can stretch over several years. Sherman knows that, and he’s feeling the pressure.
“I’ve got a great sense of urgency on this. Time is not our friend,” he said.
Sherman has long been vocal about his preference for downtown baseball, and he didn’t shy away from that on Monday. But he also acknowledged that this isn’t just about baseball romanticism - it’s about business.
“This is a business, and we have to be open-minded about where to locate this,” Sherman said. “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.”
That vision of a downtown ballpark - buzzing with life, connected to the city’s cultural core - is one that resonates with many fans. But Sherman made it clear that the decision has to work for the franchise long-term, not just emotionally, but strategically and financially.
“I know our fans have stadium fatigue, or deal fatigue, and we’ve got that too,” Sherman said. “But this is a generational decision. It’s very strategic, and we’ve got to get it right.”
The Royals’ next move won’t just shape the future of the franchise - it could redefine the city’s skyline and its identity as a baseball town. For now, the pieces are still moving. But if Sherman’s comments are any indication, the finish line may be closer than it seems.