After much anticipation, the Kansas City Royals have revealed their plans for a new stadium and ballpark district that will be situated in the Crossroads District of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The announcement comes as a culmination of the team's search for a new home, considering both the East Village and North Kansas City as potential locations.

Previously, the Royals had unveiled their vision for the East Village project, which was projected to span 27 acres. Located near the T-Mobile Center and Power & Light District, the East Village site aimed to integrate seamlessly with the existing downtown developments and bring about 20,000 jobs during the construction phase.

Ultimately, the team decided to settle on the Crossroads District, which will incorporate the land of the former Kansas City Star building at 16th and McGee Street. This new location will serve as the foundation for the development of the new stadium and ballpark district.

Royals owner John Sherman has expressed his vision of the team playing in the new stadium by either the 2027 or 2028 season. Sherman initially estimated the construction cost to be around $2 billion, but recent leaked documents suggest that the cost could potentially exceed $5 billion.

In order to move forward with the project, the Royals are relying on an extension to the 3/8-cent sales tax, which would provide funding for the stadium development and improvement. Jackson County legislators recently overrode county executive Frank White's veto, allowing the stadium sales tax to appear on the ballot in April 2024.

While the decision on the new location has been made, concerns have been raised by area business owners who fear the demolition of established restaurants and bars in the Crossroads District. However, the franchise is under pressure to break ground on the project as the deadline to secure public funding on the upcoming ballot is January 23.

With the announcement of their new home stadium, the Kansas City Royals are paving the way for a new era of baseball in Kansas City. Fans can look forward to a state-of-the-art facility in the vibrant Crossroads District, solidifying the team's presence in the heart of the city for decades to come.