Royals Kansas City begins talk and studies for downtown ballpark - Page 10

Titty Meat · 10-04-2017, 04:51 PM

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.

Fairplay · 10-05-2017, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

Tailgating would not exist downtown. At least not the way we think of it. A few guys here and there pounding a beer before walking in.

Yep the famous tailgating that this city is known for would be virtually none existent.

GloryDayz · 10-05-2017, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Sprint Center is printing money.

No shit... It seems like every other ****ing week they're closing streets down for an event there! It's why I pretty much Telework 90% of the time anymore. OK, 98% of the time when I'm in town!

In 2003 downtown was a ghost town! Hell my parking place was where the Flying Saucer's bar is. Words can't express how improved downtown is these days.

It's time to move the ballpark there... It's the right thing to do.

mr. tegu · 10-05-2017, 10:04 PM

I am glad downtown has improved but we don't have to copy every other new park and end the tailgating that people love and are proud to be known for. Get creative. Create a complex around the stadium. If businesses want the stadium moved there they are welcome to instead develop something around the stadiums if they are convinced fans means revenue. But they dont seem to want to invest in that and instead just want the teams to bring the fans to them.

What kind of planning went into the Legends? Who was the catalyst and did some companies sort of sign on to get it started?

**Bearcat** · 10-05-2017, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Again, what reasoning would the Royals organization have for dumping their current setup and moving to this? Especially considering how much the Power & Light project has financially flopped and cost taxpayers infinitely more than expected while providing way below anticipated returns?

I'm sure those with the actual data from all the downtown stadiums out there and actual dollar amounts for stuff like parking should be able to figure it out. I'm sure P&L would do much better with a professional team nearby, since of course all the original projections were counting on one. I have no clue how much better/worse (if any change) they'd do at the gate or with renting out suites or whatever downtown. I think it would be great for fans and don't think it would be bad for the Royals, but yay capitalism, none of that matters.

That said, I'm personally not a fan of publicly funding millionaires to completely replace stadiums that are perfectly fine for the sole purpose of making more money...... but, until that scam ends, the K will "need" to be replaced eventually and I think downtown would be a great spot.

**Bearcat** · 10-05-2017, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Yep the famous tailgating that this city is known for would be virtually none existent.

The Chiefs would still be at Arrowhead, which is the only team known for tailgating fans.

tk13 · 10-05-2017, 10:09 PM

Also, even with loss of parking there will probably be other revenue opportunities. For instance, if they build a new stadium it won't be Kauffman Stadium, they'll almost certainly sell naming rights and make a nice chunk of change each year. There won't be the blowback you'd get now by taking Ewing Kauffman's name off the current stadium, although maybe I'm wrong on that.

GloryDayz · 10-05-2017, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I am glad downtown has improved but we don't have to copy every other new park and end the tailgating that people love and are proud to be known for. Get creative. Create a complex around the stadium. If businesses want the stadium moved there they are welcome to instead develop something around the stadiums if they are convinced fans means revenue. But they dont seem to want to invest in that and instead just want the teams to bring the fans to them.

What kind of planning went into the Legends? Who was the catalyst and did some companies sort of sign on to get it started?

I don't see a lot of tailgating at Royals games. Certainly nothing like Chiefs games.

And if they'd move some businesses in, perhaps, but they won't. And the Jan-Apr drought would kill most businesses. Hell, the Oct-Jan part would be though with only 10 guaranteed Chiefs games.

mr. tegu · 10-05-2017, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I don't see a lot of tailgating at Royals games. Certainly nothing like Chiefs games.

And if they'd move some businesses in, perhaps, but they won't. And the Jan-Apr drought would kill most businesses. Hell, the Oct-Jan part would be though with only 10 guaranteed Chiefs games.

That's where the creative part comes in. Using the Legends as an example, there are places there that attract people year round and it just beefs up one when SKC plays. They don't play often at all but it works. Having an entire complex with something for everyone, not just a few random bars and restaraunts, is definitely necessary though.

DaveNull · 10-05-2017, 10:21 PM

Goodness, GloryDayz and I are agreeing on something for the first time since the last time we bitched about the traffic coming out of our parking garage.

I'm gonna go lie down.

In all seriousness, GD...why don't we come up with some kind of electric message board to put at the exit that just says whether 13th is open all the way or not?

Titty Meat · 10-05-2017, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedated

Tailgating would not exist downtown. At least not the way we think of it. A few guys here and there pounding a beer before walking in.

Its a shame none of the bars in PNL would run some sort of inexpensive happy hour but I bet some of the smaller bars will and it would be a great pregame.

suzzer99 · 10-05-2017, 11:21 PM

My theory is PNL would stop sucking so bad with a real downtown stadium. Let's find out!

**007** · 10-06-2017, 04:19 AM

If it happens, that will be the end of me going to games. I don't go to many but I have no interest in dealing with downtown.

GloryDayz · 10-06-2017, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

That's where the creative part comes in. Using the Legends as an example, there are places there that attract people year round and it just beefs up one when SKC plays. They don't play often at all but it works. Having an entire complex with something for everyone, not just a few random bars and restaraunts, is definitely necessary though.

Sign me up, I'll vote for it. Mind you, we have morons that'll point to places like the Legends and P&L being an abject failure, and they'll pump that fake news 24x7...

That being said, I'd still love to see it moved downtown. Perhaps the Berkley Riverfront area is an option. It's not downtown, but downtown people could walk there. Parking could be added there too, and perhaps players could hit balls into the River..

GloryDayz · 10-06-2017, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveNull

Goodness, GloryDayz and I are agreeing on something for the first time since the last time we bitched about the traffic coming out of our parking garage.

I'm gonna go lie down.

In all seriousness, GD...why don't we come up with some kind of electric message board to put at the exit that just says whether 13th is open all the way or not?

Partly because the ****ing morons took out our east-side exit (FOR A ****ING DOWNTOWN BANK DRIVE THRU), I pretty-much Telework all the time. And if I do go into my office, it's pretty-much:

After rush hour
I leave before 3:00 or after 6:00
Never when they have the streets closed
Never during the Big-12 tournament
Never (again) when Colin Powell is giving a speech at the Sprint Center

There are certain monthly meetings I can't get out of, and I only interview employees at the office, but short of that, it's better to work from home when in town (which happens a lot more now).

GloryDayz · 10-06-2017, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007

If it happens, that will be the end of me going to games. I don't go to many but I have no interest in dealing with downtown.

You'll go and you know it! It's going to be freaking awesome...

Man, I'd ask them to make a "Businessman's" STH package! If I couldn't make it, you give the ticket to somebody in the office..

10-04-2017, 04:51 PM
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $2327558	Kansas City begins talk and studies for downtown ballpark 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.
Posts: 75,037

10-05-2017, 10:04 PM	#138
mr. tegu Forever Royal Join Date: Mar 2012 Casino cash: $2021300	I am glad downtown has improved but we don't have to copy every other new park and end the tailgating that people love and are proud to be known for. Get creative. Create a complex around the stadium. If businesses want the stadium moved there they are welcome to instead develop something around the stadiums if they are convinced fans means revenue. But they dont seem to want to invest in that and instead just want the teams to bring the fans to them. What kind of planning went into the Legends? Who was the catalyst and did some companies sort of sign on to get it started?
Posts: 24,043

10-05-2017, 10:09 PM	#141
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2032500	Also, even with loss of parking there will probably be other revenue opportunities. For instance, if they build a new stadium it won't be Kauffman Stadium, they'll almost certainly sell naming rights and make a nice chunk of change each year. There won't be the blowback you'd get now by taking Ewing Kauffman's name off the current stadium, although maybe I'm wrong on that.
Posts: 54,915

10-05-2017, 10:21 PM	#144
DaveNull Veteran Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Villa Straylight Casino cash: $10005610	Goodness, GloryDayz and I are agreeing on something for the first time since the last time we bitched about the traffic coming out of our parking garage. I'm gonna go lie down. In all seriousness, GD...why don't we come up with some kind of electric message board to put at the exit that just says whether 13th is open all the way or not?
Posts: 2,367

10-05-2017, 11:21 PM	#146
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $3014284	My theory is PNL would stop sucking so bad with a real downtown stadium. Let's find out!
Posts: 27,244

10-06-2017, 04:19 AM	#147
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	If it happens, that will be the end of me going to games. I don't go to many but I have no interest in dealing with downtown. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554