A new downtown baseball stadium will feature fountains and Crown Vision, according to new renderings revealed by the team at a news conference Thursday afternoon. The team announced the designs with Kansas City-based global design firm Populous.
The fountains were essential to the renderings, according to Populous senior director Earl Santee.
“They are the centerpiece of the stadium as we celebrate Kansas City and the great history of its fountains.”
The Crown Vision scoreboard will be three-dimensional, oval and larger than the current scoreboard at Kauffman Stadium. Fans will be able to roam the lower rafter.
The stadium will be carved into the existing limestone cliff, with an entrance constructed from limestone. The main entrance will be to the north of the stadium, with fans entering through a plaza overlooking the outfield. The outfield will feature two 360-degree concourses, with an entertainment building in right field and Royals headquarters in a building in left field. The ballpark will have approximately 34,000 seats, plus 3,000 standing-room only seats, 65 percent of which will be shaded by a canopy. There will be 50 “unique fan experiences” planned throughout the park.
The home plate entrance will include a south plaza area. This will be at the top of the upper deck, similar to Dodger Stadium, where fans will descend to their seats.
Images courtesy of Populous/Kansas City Royals
The Royals say the ballpark is within walking distance of the Kansas City Light Rail, with 9,000 parking spaces within a ten-minute walk. The team will retain two existing parking lots to the north with approximately 4,000 spaces, and the new stadium will also include a new parking lot in right field. Real Estate and Development President Brooks Sherman highlighted pedestrian access to the ballpark, citing a study that showed Kauffman Stadium was last in baseball in terms of walkability. They view the stadium as a year-round destination with concerts, festivals and other events. When asked if the Royals had a name for the stadium, Sherman said “that will come with time.”
Santee expressed pride in leading the effort to build a stadium that “undeniably looks like Kansas City.”
“More than a ballpark, it will be a destination where memories are made, where generations of fans can celebrate the traditions they cherish, and where Royals baseball connects to the heart of downtown as the team and the city begin an exciting new chapter in our hometown.”
Populous, based in Kansas City, is a world-renowned sports architecture firm that helped design Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Oracle Park, PNC Park, Yankee Stadium, Target Field and Truist Park.
The $1.9 billion ballpark will span 85 acres on the site of Hallmark’s current headquarters near Crown Center, part of a $3 billion district. The City Council recently approved $600 million in tax financing for the project, although with interest those payments will total nearly $1.4 billion over time. The Royals and city leaders expect some state support, with the rest of the funding coming from private investment. The Royals expect the stadium to be open by the start of the 2030 season. Kansas City voters will decide in April whether the city can fund stadium efforts, although Mayor Quinton Lucas insists it won’t affect the progress of the Royals stadium project.
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