WHY WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK?
When the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015, the city celebrated at Union Station and Washington Square Park. Since then, the location has hosted multiple Super Bowl celebrations and was the shining star of the NFL Draft. With its magical connection to victories, a group of Downtown Business owners envision an even greater civic win: a downtown home for the Royals.
In January 2024, independent of the Royals, the City and County, Vince Bryant of 3D Development assembled a team of architects, real estate brokers, attorneys and PR professionals to conduct a deep investigation to see if Washington Square Park could achieve the goals of both community and Royals. This team includes 3D Development, BNIM Architects, Cushman & Wakefield, Withers Brant and Highline Partners.
To achieve both community and team goals, the site must:
- Benefit local businesses across the largest footprint possible
- Deliver significant cost savings across the board
- Have both abundant parking and easy access via public transportation
- Be welcoming to families as a safe and fun destination
“We didn’t believe that the vote was the end of the story,” said Vince Bryant, CEO of 3D Development. “As Crossroads businesses, we understood the concerns of our neighbors, but we also believed in the Royals’ desire to create something transformational for the city. After months of due diligence, which included sharing it quietly with our neighbors, we feel confident that this is a great home for the Royals.”
“It didn’t take long to see that this is the right site for the Royals and the people of Kansas City,” says Steve McDowell, Principal BNIM. “For more than 50 years, we’ve worked in the Union Station District and a new ballpark here would leverage so many existing public and private assets. Even more, it connects to a civic tradition of what began two-miles east at the historic Municipal Stadium. This is the last piece of the puzzle in finishing the heart of the city.”
SITE HIGHLIGHTS
Click to download these graphics so you can post via your own channels to share your support of downtown baseball at Washington Square Park.
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Zero business displacements, 1 building demolition (2301 Main building being vacated in 2025)
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A single willing seller at 2301 Main completes the assembly of land required for the ballpark site
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Ample ancillary development opportunities surrounding the site
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Over 17 acres of empty parking lots within a 2-block radius of the site
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Surrounded by existing class-A real estate
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10.5 million SF of office
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3,000 residential units
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1,770 hotel rooms
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150 retailers
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Abundant access points whether fans walk, drive, ride or bike
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A proven location for Kansas City’s biggest outdoor events
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9 interstate connections within a 5 minute drive and a convergence of 8 four-lane roadways surround the park
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More than 20,000 parking stalls within a 4-block radius
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2,500 people per hour delivered by KC Streetcar (Located at the mid-point, 15-min to each end)
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Future commuter & regional rail service direct to Union Station
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Best distribution of benefit in all directions
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New stadium would sit directly on the ever-growing KC Streetcar Line, connecting our largest public investments, from the Riverfront through the new South Loop Project (I-670 Lid) to Union Station, Penn Valley Park and the Country Club Plaza.
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Walking distance to hundreds of existing local retail/restaurant/bar establishments as well as Power and Light District.
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Surrounded by Large-scale Attractions
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Significant Architecture: Union Station, Crown Center, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Penn Valley Park, Western Auto Building, Freight House Restaurants, and Pennway Point
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Complementary to other family-friendly attractions: Sea Life Aquarium, Science City, Lego Land, Kaleidoscope, Crown Center Fountains & Ice Terrace, KC Wheel, Coterie Theatre, KC Ballet, National WWI Museum and Memorial, and more
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Placed just outside of the Crossroads Art's District but prominently featured as an investment in our Downtown Community
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Skyline views from within and around the stadium and surrounding grounds
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Reinforces the City’s National Reputation
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As host to the NFL Draft, and the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival, the site has proven to be one of the city’s most iconic backdrops.
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With downtown as the backdrop, aerial coverage will show off the City in a way that supersedes any other potential location and spur even more national interest and outside investment
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PROPOSED RENDERINGS
Voters rejected plans for a ballpark in the East Crossroads, but that doesn't mean we've struck out. In what could be the biggest transformative project our city will see in the next generation, it's time to embrace this opportunity as a downtown neighborhood.
We're collecting pledges from businesses, residents, and fans of a strong Downtown community to show the Royals that Downtown wants to play ball!
WE SUPPORT DOWNTOWN BASEBALL
Project Team
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Additional Support
“Downtown baseball is good for downtown, and what’s good for downtown is good for all of Kansas City. Downtown represents only 2% of the City’s land area, but it generates roughly 25% of the City’s earnings tax revenue. That money flows out to all parts of the city: the East side, South KC, the West side, and the Northland. It benefits everyone.
If we want a healthy city, we need a strong downtown. And nothing - nothing - would strengthen downtown more than a Major League Baseball stadium. This is our generation’s chance to really move the needle on Kansas City’s vitality. I hope we’ll make the most of this incredible opportunity.”
-Gib Kerr, Vice Chair of the Downtown Council
“A downtown baseball park is a generational investment that will catalyze growth in our urban core, and activate many of the assets where we have already made regional investments like the Riverfront, Midtown and The Country Club Plaza. Whether you work or live downtown or not, the entire region benefits from downtown baseball. Let’s continue to make the River-Crown-Plaza a priority, and bring baseball downtown. No plan is perfect, but I know we are a better region with downtown baseball.”
-Nicholas Grünauer, Owner, Grünauer Restaurant
"I think the Washington Square Park site has great potential and believe in the benefit of Downtown Baseball as a community asset both for individuals, families, and as an economic driver for our businesses. While I don't have all the facts because it is a work in progress, I strongly support further investigation of the site and continued development of a plan."
-Suzie Aron, President + Broker, Aron Real Estate & Founding Member + Past President, Crossroads Community Association
"I have viewed the prospective site for over 30 years from my office at Kessinger Hunter, and as a season ticket owner since day 1 (when the team was the Athletics!) I truly believe the location and all the surrounding amenities assures me that this site is a REAL WINNER!"
- Chuck Hunter, Principal, Kessinger Hunter
"I'm really excited about this new home for the KC Royals Stadium! It is an everybody wins location for KC, Jackson County, the Royals, the Fans and the surrounding community.
Well Done! It's brilliant! Excellent highway accessibility, parking options, and connectivity to the Streetcar, the Crossroads and Crown Center. And it's on KC's Grand Blvd. To say it simply, I'd call it a Home Run!"
-Matt Abbot, Owner, Abbot Properties
"This site’s connection to existing infrastructure, transportation, and parking—all with zero displacement of existing businesses at a fraction of the land cost of Crossroads—is a 10 out of 10. When can I reserve my seats?"
-Brad Nicholson, Downtown Pioneer
"Love this site! We can see so much design potential here and agree with the sentiment that it has become a community gathering destination synonymous with victory. We fully support the Royals in its stadium efforts and this site should be a strong consideration."
-Thomas Proebstle, AIA, Co-Founder, Generator Studio
“Washington Park is the “bullseye site” for the new Royals stadium. Accessed by interstates from every direction, the site is adjacent to the streetcar line linking the Plaza, The Crossroads, and CBD, and points clear north to Berkley Riverfront and the KC Current’s CPKC Stadium. With synergistic linkage to thousands of parking spots, Crown Center, CBD and Crossroads hotels, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues are all nearby. Adding the Royals’ stadium to this location is a classic real estate 2+2=5.”
-Whitney E. Kerr, Sr., Chairman of the KCMO Planning Commission 1991-1998
"This alternate site solves nearly all of the issues I had with the East Crossroads proposal: Better transit access, fewer displaces businesses, and -- most importantly -- a position alongside other institutional properties (Union Station, Crown Center) rather than an arts district. Kudos!"
-David Johnson, Neighborhood & Transit Advocate
"The proposed stadium development in Washington Square Park is an intriguing possibility. Enhancing economic opportunities in this area would provide benefits to residents and businesses, particularly given that nearly 80% of visitors to the National WWI Museum and Memorial come from out of town, often for sporting events. Integrating the museum more closely with potential new attractions holds promise to serve more people visiting Kansas City."
-Matthew Naylor, President and CEO, National WWI Museum and Memorial
“We are excited about the prospect of a downtown baseball stadium and having the Kansas City Royals as our neighbor. We would love to raise a glass in our Beer Hall with our shared fans before and after games.”
-Seraf De Smedt, President, Boulevard Brewing Company
"This is an inflection point of the future of our City. The status quo may comfortable, but cities either shrink, get stagnant or thrive. Downtown Baseball will be that catalyst for our City. This is a grassroots efforts that started by stakeholders. They heard the concerns of opposition that focused on the proposed location, and found the solution, the ideal location deserving of community support. Not only is the site located on the streetcar, it can bring fans on heavy rail from Lees Summit and Independence into Union Station. We need all stakeholders to be loud, be prideful and...Believe in Downtown Baseball."
-Chris Sally, Iconic Development
"In the last 30 plus years, there has been an overwhelming demand for new MLB stadiums to be built in a city's central core. These downtown investments bring additional energy to existing community assets and attractions, further strengthening the heart of these cities. Aggregating these activities where infrastructure can support them is a primary key to their success."
-Vincent Gauthier, Founder of AuthentictyCity
