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.

[GloryDayz]

I think it's a wonderful idea and should have happened instead of the last renovations. To me baseball is a downtown sport and tailgating isn't that big of a deal at a baseball game, so a huge parking lot means little. Don't get me wrong, there's NOTHING wrong with the renovated K, it's the address and surrounding amenities are the issue.

But I'm surprised that they're doing it this soon after the renovations.

EDIT: Not to offend, but I'm older now and I'm OK with a roof over Arrowhead too.

[BWillie]

This would be fantastic for the Royals! Maybe in about 8 years. They spent too much money on the renovation to do it right away. But why anyone wouldn't want a downtown ballpark boggles my mind. Que the derp derp I drive right to the place I want to go and can't figure out why there no parkingerrrsss!!!! DERP DERP

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by BWillie

This would be fantastic for the Royals! Maybe in about 8 years. They spent too much money on the renovation to do it right away. But why anyone wouldn't want a downtown ballpark boggles my mind. Que the derp derp I drive right to the place I want to go and can't figure out why there no parkingerrrsss!!!! DERP DERP

Meh, expand light rail to parking spots and call it good.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by carcosa

I went to Target Field on Opening Day. Their light rail really did make it easy to get to the stadium and back without many headaches, and that was with a sellout crowd. I love the K but if they did it right, a downtown stadium would be pretty cool.

The caveat on that is that HHH dome was quickly becoming a dump. Its usefulness as a two sport stadium was clear. The twins wanted and needed out. It had nothing to offer compared to the stadium today. The dagger of the place (after the twins moved) was 17 inches of snow falling and the roof collapsed. There is no place around that could have handled a stadium other than downtown. Plus add the new Vikes stadium-it works. The light rail helps.

I hate going anywhere close to downtown MPLS.

I understand Kaufman is still a great place. Nothing close to HHH.

KC has the best setup in sports-why **** that up?

[TEX]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Meh, expand light rail to parking spots and call it good.

He's right. Even with light rail it probably won't work - at least it hasn't in Houston. Of course Houston is much larger than KC so maybe that has something to do with why it doesn't work well here. The Astrodome was so EASY to get to, easy to park, leave etc. Parking at Minute Maid is a nightmare - light rail runs right to it too. I get that it's the "In thing" to have a shiny, new Downtown ball park these days. Till you get one...

[TribalElder]

The street car comes around once every 30 minutes and is usually 2/3 full

It would be easier to just build better hotels by the stadiums

[dirk digler]

Why would that want to ruin what is already considered one of the best sport complexes ever built?

If they want light rail run it out to the sports complex and the new airport and various stops in between.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Lies^

A mid 90s survey reported only about 7% of our attendance comes from outside the metro.


Aren't you glad I'm here on this board?

Mid 90s huh? That seems relevant to 2017.

[Coach]

I refuse to even consider a downtown park, for many issues. Infrastructure issues is the big one in downtown.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by carcosa

They keep ramming it down people's throats... because people keep voting for it? That's like saying Pizza Hut is ramming pizza down the throats of people who order pizza from Pizza Hut.

What I mean is they love the street car but Kansas Citians hate not having parking. That's what's slowly happening to the city.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by BWillie

This would be fantastic for the Royals! Maybe in about 8 years. They spent too much money on the renovation to do it right away. But why anyone wouldn't want a downtown ballpark boggles my mind. Que the derp derp I drive right to the place I want to go and can't figure out why there no parkingerrrsss!!!! DERP DERP

Haha well if it gets built in the East Village it will be VERY entertaining to see Johnson Countians freak out. We gotta park near Troost!?!?

[Sassy Squatch]

Probably should have brought this up a couple of years ago when we all had that world series high, not when we are potentially letting 4 fan favorite players walk.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Scooter Libby

Yeah but they'll use the street car as an argument. They are ramming that thing down people's throats because people keep voting for it. They are building huge luxury apartments downtown and beginning to do the same in Westport.

Yep, follow the $$ and you will see who is behind this.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Molitoth

Personally, I think this would be stupid. Kaufman is beautiful, and it's easy to get in and out.

Downtown parking would be a freaking nightmare. If you want to see the skyline, go down and utilize P&L.

BINGO !!

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Mid 90s huh? That seems relevant to 2017.

It is, if you know the 80/20 rule (Pareto principle). 80% of Royals attendance can be expected to come from 20% of their base - the "heavy users"


I don't have to tell you where they reside.