Kansas City begins talk and studies for downtown ballpark

[Titty Meat]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/polit...177058541.html

The city of Kansas City is funding a study of at least four potential sites for a downtown baseball stadium for the Kansas City Royals, according to documents obtained by The Star.

A series of emails shows that Kansas City Manager Troy Schulte was involved in funding studies of four sites within the downtown loop that might be suitable for a baseball stadium.

Two of those sites, according to slides prepared by architecture firm HOK, are immediately adjacent to the Sprint Center, one to the north and one to the east.

Another site is East Village, several blocks of mostly undeveloped land and surface parking lots east of City Hall. A fourth site would involve several blocks of mostly surface parking lots beginning at the northwest corner of 8th and Main streets.

Others involved in the planning include Jon Copaken, principal with real estate development firm Copaken-Brooks, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, JE Dunn, The Cordish Co. and Tower Properties.

Schulte said the studies started after the Downtown Council approached City Hall about the feasibility of downtown baseball. Schulte added that he agreed to help fund a study to consider whether the four sites would work so that the city could plan ahead if the idea gained momentum.

“At this point it’s nothing more than hopes and dreams and discussions,” Schulte said.

A May 12 email from Copaken obtained by The Star suggested that conversations with the Royals and Jackson County have started.

“[T]he studies are underway, invoices are out, conversations from the County and the team are actually heading in the right way and we are sufficiently in the loop to know that real progress is being achieved,” Copaken wrote.

Kevin Uhlich, senior vice president of business operations for the Royals, said he had been contacted about downtown baseball stadium proposals earlier this year.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Sprint Center is easy to park and I have been there for many sold out concerts that wouldn't be that much different from a baseball game.

Downtown would add exactly 10 minutes to my travel time. It's a great idea. Should have been done this way instead of the last renovation.

[Eleazar]

Just like the city can't wait to destroy a convenient airport in order to generate more revenue for itself, they would love to destroy a great baseball stadium in order to install a generic downtown tax revenue generator

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

There is nothing really around Minute Maid in Houston either and it is downtown. Well, nothing other than bail bond offices really. You have to walk quite a few blocks to get to restaurants and decently priced hotels. Most of the restaurants in the area close at 3 and are not open on weekends.

All the economic impact reports will be complete bullshit.

They started building the new Vikings stadium in 2013, and still today there's really nothing around it that wasn't already happening. This is the same site where the Metrodome sat for over 30 years, and no development occurred in the area during that time either.

They are still knocking down dilapidated buildings and replacing them with cookie-cutter rental properties all over the city, including that area of downtown, but I doubt a person could point to any specific development that US Bank has caused to be started by its presence.

People don't want to live on the east side of downtown because there's nothing near it but shady areas, and the stadium isn't going to change that.

I don't think people move to an undesirable area in order to be near a stadium and people don't appreciate an inconvenient game day experience like having no parking.

These things get built not because fans want them but because the teams demand them and the city bows in order to keep the team, but I'd bet any examples where a stadium brought economic vibrancy to an area just by sitting there are few and far between.

[mnchiefsguy]

This is a stupid idea and a waste of taxpayers money.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

This is a stupid idea and a waste of taxpayers money.

I'd rather have the stadium at the ****ing Legends. In fact, I really can't think of a worse place to put a stadium than where it is right now. The only reason you guys like the location, is because it's all you've ever known.

I would really get a kick out of the Chiefs or Royals being in KANSAS. That would freak Methzourrahs the **** out. KANSAS City Chiefs!

[KCUnited]

If I'm going to have to get in my car and drive to a game, I'd prefer the ease of getting in and out over what's around it. If I'm able to easily uber or utilize public transportation to get to a game, then I'd prefer it be in a downtown-like setup. In KC, most people are still going to have to drive to the game. I could see it down the road though as their downtown becomes more densely populated and the public transportation options get expanded.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

If I'm going to have to get in my car and drive to a game, I'd prefer the ease of getting in and out over what's around it. If I'm able to easily uber or utilize public transportation to get to a game, then I'd prefer it be in a downtown-like setup. In KC, most people are still going to have to drive to the game. I could see it down the road though as their downtown becomes more densely populated and the public transportation options get expanded.

And that lies the problem in downtown Kansas City. There isn't enough ease of getting in and out over what's around it. The public transportation is even packed without a downtown stadium. There isn't enough parking spots available for a downtown game.

Simply put, the infrastructure for downtown Kansas City is not up to standards to contain all that traffic for a downtown baseball stadium at this point.

[Pilsner]

Why hasn't the area around the current stadia developed beyond a fleabitten motel and a Denny's?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

I think this is a start of leverage for the next ask for renovations at the sports complex. Leverage, nothing more.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by Coach

And that lies the problem in downtown Kansas City. There isn't enough ease of getting in and out over what's around it. The public transportation is even packed without a downtown stadium. There isn't enough parking spots available for a downtown game.

Simply put, the infrastructure for downtown Kansas City is not up to standards to contain all that traffic for a downtown baseball stadium at this point.

Hopefully as more people start to live and work downtown, the demand for updated public transportation will be addressed.

I remember flying in for the World Series and Mets Fan staggering around KCI like 'how the **** do I get to the hotel?', 'how the **** do I get to the stadium?. I was like the rental car shuttle should be coming around any minute now.

[mr. tegu]

The Legends was literally nothing except open space and not exactly a lot of people nearby. Why can't something like that be developed by the stadiums? Those stadiumd as attractions are way more than what the Legends started with.

[ChiefsCountry]

Sports complex is located an industrial park and has shitty demographics around the stadium. If it was highly desirable for commercial development it would have already happened.

[ChiefsCountry]

The best site for a downtown ballpark isn't even on the study - 19th and Oak. Downtown, Crossroads and Crown Center area all meet.

[O.city]

Walking distance from the plaza an option?

[BlackHelicopters]

Many of us remember Municipal Stadium. Parking in peoples yards . I faintly remember.