A few months ago, I wrote a story on the Kansas City Royals and their crazy ways of trying to convince taxpayers to give them a billion dollars through an increased sales tax (for a new ballpark). As I said in the story, the Royals decided that the best way to do this was by making sure that residents were “confused about every detail of their potential ballpark.” Rather than finish important deals months before the vote on the new sales tax, the Royals were completing them “just a week or two before the sales tax vote, leaving people with little opportunity to read or review (any) documents for themselves.”
Mind you, all of this comes after the owner wrote a letter to everyone stating how much he values residents and transparency. Even though the Royals have promised everyone that they would be “super transparent” about the ballpark moving forward, they have never done it. The Kansas City Star even wrote an editorial late last year that basically mocked the Royals (and the Kansas City Chiefs, to be fair) for promising the public transparency and then giving none.
If we fast-forward to today, things are not getting any better. The Kansas City Business Journal wrote a story detailing how the Royals “have yet to say where they want a new ballpark” yet are angering residents in locations that they might build on. After it was found out that the Royals had completed a $183.5 million loan purchase in Overland Park’s Aspiria campus, just about everyone who lives near there told the Royals not to build a new ballpark in this part of town.
It won’t shock anyone that one of the reasons why local leaders in Overland Park are against the ballpark is due to transparency with the team:
“The lack of transparency is glaring,” Leawood Councilwoman Julie Cain said at a Monday meeting, where council members unanimously backed (the mayor). “(We have) no photos, no nothing. … To think that putting (a stadium) right across the street, literally right across the street to our western border, will not impact the city of Leawood is just absolutely absurd.” — 12/16/25, Kansas City Business Journal
At a recent open house, “hundreds of (residents) reportedly attended” to tell the Royals not to build a ballpark here. The president of one homeowners association insists that a new ballpark “would ruin the neighborhood feel of the area.” One local business owner begged the Royals not to let local concerns be “pushed aside” with this ballpark. T-Mobile has threatened to move their campus if the Royals build at this location. Heck, the mayor doesn’t even want them and issued a statement saying that he “cannot, at this time, support (Overland Park) as an appropriate location for a Major League Baseball stadium.”
As the Kansas City Star wrote, residents are “sick of secret negotiations” by the team.
“There is clearly work going on with no work presented from Johnson County, Overland Park, or Royals ownership,” resident Amanda Palan said. “Residents should be informed or polled about billion-dollar projects that will change the character of their community.” — 12/12/25, Kansas City Star
The Royals have openly discussed building a new ballpark at a location called Washington Square Park. This has caught both residents and officials off guard since nobody has any details on this idea. The Royals won’t tell anyone “where a new ballpark could go” at the park. As one resident told the Star, it is “grim and frustrating” to have “so few options to voice our opinion” on this project.
I know this means nothing, but I still find it a bit funny. Two petitions were started recently on Change.org. One that is against building a ballpark in Overland Park and one that is for this idea. The petition against the idea has “more than 1,200 signatures as of Monday,” and the petition for the idea “has garnered 55 signatures.” As I said in a previous story, “Wherever the Royals look, residents seem to be ready and set to fight the team from moving into their neighborhood.” Then again, considering how often the Royals end up pissing off residents and businesses in all of their potential ballpark locations, should anyone expect actual transparency?
Last month, the Royals released a new survey to season-ticket members and asked for “feedback on the team and the game-day and broadcast experiences.” KSHB, a local media outlet, did a great job getting Royals fans reaction to the survey.
It is not difficult to figure out how tired Royals fans are of hearing about a new ballpark:
“If you knew you planned on moving, why didn’t you send the survey…a long time ago, three years ago, especially to those season-ticket holders?” — Stephanie Meade, a Royals fan from Midtown.
“Ever since (the sales tax was rejected by voters last year), I just feel like it’s been really vague on what exactly the plan is…I’m a little bored of it, honestly…I’m tired of hearing about it on the radio every single morning.” — Mark Flood, a Royals fan from Shawnee.
“But other than occasional statements of appreciation…the Royals have kept relatively quiet in the 18 months.” — KSHB.com
“I haven’t heard that much from John as far as what he’s put out…He kind of just sprung the survey on us” — Kyle Vassar, a Royals fan at Union Station.
“Even if it was just a little bit of information, the community would be like, ‘Hey, you know, I appreciate that you are open communicating with us and so that we’re in the loop’” — Deron Binkley, a Royals fan from Independence.
“His agenda was from day one, he’s moving the Royals, and that’s a shame — in my eyes” — Shawn Malles, a Royals fan from Independence.
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