New Ballpark Update - Kansas City

9,051 Views | 43 Replies | Last: 6 mo ago by agracer
88Warrior
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I know I'm in the minority but man I miss our parking lot stadium…Long live the Astrodome!!
fc2112
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More and more owners want to control the area around the stadium and gain extra revenue stream by creating the city around the stadium.

That's what the Rangers are doing. Texas Live, Live by Lowes, Lowes Arlington and Convention Center, the new Medal of Honor Museum, Hearsay Arlington. the Arlington Art Museum. As much of a ******* as Tom Hicks was, he sucked up a lot of room around the stadium that the Rangers can now develop.
The Milkman
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AG
Ha not sure why I left off MMP.
agracer
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AG
dabo man said:

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/royals-unveil-plans-for-proposed-downtown-ballpark
Royals pick spot for proposed new ballpark
Quote:

On Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals presented their plans to build a new ballpark and surrounding entertainment district in the Crossroads District in downtown Kansas City.

"Kansas City is a special place," Royals CEO/chairman John Sherman said. "We have outperformed many of our peers for our care for the heart of our city. Look at the residential growth downtown and the dynamism of the development and redevelopment of the Crossroads. The arts, the music, the food and drink.
Such altruism!!

I don't remember where, but I recently read about the latest generation of ballparks. Maximizing premium seating is old news. Real estate development (i.e. the surrounding land) is the new "it" feature owners want in their parks. I'm sure the downtown ballpark will be nice, but it's just extra miles and extra traffic as far as I'm concerned.

Kauffman is hopelessly dated, but I love it. It's seven miles my side of downtown (almost in Independence), right off I-70, and not having to deal with downtown traffic is wonderful. Surrounding the two stadiums (Arrowhead and the K) is a huge sea of parking. It's beautiful!!

Kauffman is small but loaded with good seats. I will miss it.
Me too. I watched the Royals as a kid in the early 70's when it was Royals Stadium and brand new. It is still a very nice stadium, even considering it's age. The seats and rails are all set up to angle towards the infield. It's a PITA if something breaks b/c nothing is standard. They have to custom fab stuff to fix a row of seats if needed.

I could leave my house at 6:30PM and be in my seats in time for a 7:10 First Pitch.
NFW that will happen if it's downtown. Parking is not going to be fun either. It already is not great with the T-Mobile center. I cant' imagine what it will be like trying to get in if there are events at both T-Mobile and the new ballpark the same night.

Our company Christmas party was downtown last December. Fortunately, I got there early b/c we booked a hotel for the night, but some co-workers said they sat on I-35 or I-70 for 45+ minutes trying to get to the convention center area and park.

Originally the plans I saw had it in East Village, which would have been great b/c it was a short walk from my wife's office and parking lot. Now it's in crossroads. I just don't see myself going to to many games b/c the in/out is just going to suck, A LOT!
agracer
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AG
Voters said no

https://www.kshb.com/election-results

NO 78k
YES 56K

Honestly, the Royals and Chiefs did a TERRIBLE job selling this to the public. The Royals took forever to release a plan, then right before the election showed something else b/c that's what the mayor wanted. So Jackson County residents were left with "uhm, what are we doing again".

The Chiefs plan to renovate Arrowhead was also very underwhelming. Seems like a lot of money for nothing.

In other bad news, my friend running for School Board finished 4th of 6 (top two get seats) but at least one of the top two he was also supporting.
dabo man
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AG
For what the Royals want (a high-end ballpark with surrounding entertainment district), they need to hit up the Kansas suburbs. That's where the money is, and those are the people who are going to be using the suites and club level seating and who will be going to the bars after the games.

On the whole, Jackson County is very blue collar/working class. The Royals were more or less trying to convince people to build something that they wouldn't be able to afford using. My guess is that Jackson County voters would pass a tax if it was tied only to Arrowhead renovations and not a $1.5 billion downtown ballpark for the Royals.
W
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AG
yep, like I said 18 months ago...the suburbs is the place
gerken10
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AG
agracer
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AG
LOL, went to the game last night on some vendors tickets. They were jest on the third base side of home plate, 2nd row back behind the Crown Club (all service seats behind home plate). We're sitting there just before first pitch and my wife says "What's wrong with this stadium again?" The four of us talk about the stadium a bit and then the game starts.

Usual banter with the fans around us and chatted a bit with the two couples in front of us. The guy in front of us looks familiar and I can't place where I know him. About the 7th inning my wife says the same, she's all "does he go to our church, he looks familiar?"

Then I realize it's John Sherman! He and his wife an another couple we're sitting in front of us!

We get home and my wife's all "oh great I hope we didn't say something stupid about the stadium!"
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