Kansas City Committee Backs Royals Stadium Financing

A Kansas City council committee recommended rezoning land near Crown Center, adopting a stadium impact-area policy and issuing about $600 million in bonds toward the Royals’ roughly $2 billion ballpark. Including interest and fees, the city’s obligation is projected to reach about $1.393 billion, with repayment expected from stadium-area tax growth, parking, gaming and other revenues through 2060. A Hunden Partners study forecasts about 25,946 fans per game in the stadium’s first year, up from 21,590 at Kauffman Stadium, and anticipates revenue from concerts, private events and other activity in the impact district. Some council members questioned whether the study’s attendance and spending assumptions will produce the projected revenue, while Mayor Quinton Lucas defended the financing plan.