Royals Announce New Ballpark in "The Heart of Downtown KC"

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I'm not sure who's afraid I live in Jackson County and a ton of people have no desire to pay for it.

We shall see, but I think too many JACO people aren't willing to call Sherman's bluff, at least once at the seven-years-out mark, and demand to more details and have him explain why these other people are wrong.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Jackson County voters should probably listen to the experts.

Just pretend that they're climate change experts or CDC immunologists. You should have no problem ignoring them then.

[Bearcat]

If there's one publication that can be counted on for unbiased, objective reporting that doesn't have an ax to grind, it's the Star.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

If there's one publication that can be counted on for unbiased, objective reporting that doesn't have an ax to grind, it's the Star.

I prefer to get my voting cues directly from John Sherman personally

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

If there's one publication that can be counted on for unbiased, objective reporting that doesn't have an ax to grind, it's the Star.

Good to know two PhDs who are experts in economics, one from Kennesaw State and the other from Smith College, have an "ax to grind" against KC sports teams.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Good to know two PhDs who are experts in economics, one from Kennesaw State and the other from Smith College, have an "ax to grind" against KC sports teams.

So, you're only naive when you agree with a story?

Maybe act like you disagree with the story and then tell me why what you said is bullshit..

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

So, you're only naive when you agree with a story?

Maybe act like you disagree with the story and then tell me why what you said is bullshit..

The Star cited the source of a definitive, evidence-based and unbiased examination that proves stadium projects like this are a net negative to the economic welfare of a city which pays for them. Not only that, this source and another expert looked specifically at the Sherman and Hunt proposal and came to a conclusion which says their projections are complete hokum.

There's naiveté and then there's choosing to be ignorant.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

The Star cited the source of a definitive, evidence-based and unbiased examination that proves stadium projects like this are a net negative to the economic welfare of a city which pays for them. Not only that, this source and another expert looked specifically at the Sherman and Hunt proposal that says their projections are complete hokum.

There's naiveté and then there's choosing to be ignorant.

So, a media source that's been run through the mud in recent years as a propaganda machine for their own political agendas and editorial pieces, etc... reached out to these guys with zero knowledge of what their research would conclude (in other words, their 3rd party source have never published such findings on any other similar projects, it wasn't discussed beforehand, etc), then the Star was 100% going to publish the findings no matter the conclusion?

I'm sure The Pitch (do they even exist still?) or some other publication really wanting the Royals to be downtown could find 3rd party sources who completely agree with the economic boost theory, or at least agree enough... don't you think?

And I'm not even voting on it, obviously... if the Royals moved to Kansas, I'd give no ****s. If they moved away, it would be sad, but not life altering for myself at all..... and even on top of that, I'd lean towards agreeing the economic boost is overblown by the Royals, if not made up..... I'm just finding it amusing how you'd be bending over backwards to discredit such a piece if you disagreed with it, but this is 100% legit right here.

[nychief]

I just hope they preserve the crossroads, it's like Paris in the 20's over there.

[duncan_idaho]

Some things I'm interested to see broken down but have never seen:

1. the city's earnings tax. If the stadium is downtown, I believe that would lead to the city gaining the 1% earnings tax on every dollar earned by a player during a game at the new stadium. So, for the Royals 81 home games, 1% of those checks for Royals players as well as 1% of the checks of every visiting player.

2. The number of employees downtown within walking distance of the stadium. I have several friends who are excited about the prospect of a Crossroads or East Village stadium, but especially Crossroads, because they can go to work, park in their work garage, and then walk or Uber or streetcar to the potential stadium site. Many of these folks work at employers that would buy season ticket passes for their company for entertaining guests and put butts in seats consistently that are not there now.

I'm voting Yes, regardless. Reasons:

1. I'm not tied to the current stadium and understand it's old and needs replacement. The "bad batch of concrete" thing is, unfortunately, a thing that happens at times.

I also don't think tailgating before a baseball game is really something that has to/needs to be supported, either, and the area the stadium is in is not enticing or easy to get to for out-of-town folks.

And finally, I believe the team when it says it will not be at the K past 2030. Voting "NO" isn't a vote to save the K. It's a temporary stay of execution, nothing more.

2. Moving the stadium into a more central location makes access for downtown employees and companies much more convenient and therefore likely.

3. Adding more events in the Crossroads/Power and Light area is good long-term for that entertainment district.

4. Keeping tax revenues from the teams in Jackson County is something I don't see evaluated or mentioned often, if at all, but there's a factor there as well. Even the 1% earnings tax is roughly $3M in revenue for the city (if you base it on average MLB salary, multiply it by 2 teams and base it on 81 home games).

5. I'm, in general, in favor of moves that move the city forward, and I think this is one of them.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Some things I'm interested to see broken down but have never seen:

1. the city's earnings tax. If the stadium is downtown, I believe that would lead to the city gaining the 1% earnings tax on every dollar earned by a player during a game at the new stadium. So, for the Royals 81 home games, 1% of those checks for Royals players as well as 1% of the checks of every visiting player.


4. Keeping tax revenues from the teams in Jackson County is something I don't see evaluated or mentioned often, if at all, but there's a factor there as well. Even the 1% earnings tax is roughly $3M in revenue for the city (if you base it on average MLB salary, multiply it by 2 teams and base it on 81 home games).

Good point. I don't think they're gaining it, but would of course lose it if they moved to Kansas or out of city limits. I could be wrong, but they're inside KCMO limits for that tax now?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Good point. I don't think they're gaining it, but would of course lose it if they moved to Kansas or out of city limits. I could be wrong, but they're inside KCMO limits for that tax now?

The stadium is in KCMO currently, so yes, that's in place. So it would be more of a potential loss if they're outside the KCMO city limits.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Some things I'm interested to see broken down but have never seen:

1. the city's earnings tax. If the stadium is downtown, I believe that would lead to the city gaining the 1% earnings tax on every dollar earned by a player during a game at the new stadium. So, for the Royals 81 home games, 1% of those checks for Royals players as well as 1% of the checks of every visiting player.

2. The number of employees downtown within walking distance of the stadium. I have several friends who are excited about the prospect of a Crossroads or East Village stadium, but especially Crossroads, because they can go to work, park in their work garage, and then walk or Uber or streetcar to the potential stadium site. Many of these folks work at employers that would buy season ticket passes for their company for entertaining guests and put butts in seats consistently that are not there now.

I'm voting Yes, regardless. Reasons:

1. I'm not tied to the current stadium and understand it's old and needs replacement. The "bad batch of concrete" thing is, unfortunately, a thing that happens at times.

I also don't think tailgating before a baseball game is really something that has to/needs to be supported, either, and the area the stadium is in is not enticing or easy to get to for out-of-town folks.

And finally, I believe the team when it says it will not be at the K past 2030. Voting "NO" isn't a vote to save the K. It's a temporary stay of execution, nothing more.

2. Moving the stadium into a more central location makes access for downtown employees and companies much more convenient and therefore likely.

3. Adding more events in the Crossroads/Power and Light area is good long-term for that entertainment district.

4. Keeping tax revenues from the teams in Jackson County is something I don't see evaluated or mentioned often, if at all, but there's a factor there as well. Even the 1% earnings tax is roughly $3M in revenue for the city (if you base it on average MLB salary, multiply it by 2 teams and base it on 81 home games).

5. I'm, in general, in favor of moves that move the city forward, and I think this is one of them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a downtown stadium, I've been pretty vocal about that, but I'm not thrilled that this is being put to a yes/no vote seven years in advance with so many details missing.

[HonestChieffan]

Suddenly they change the plans.....now Oak street will be open...

Perhaps the worst PR effort ever in the history of politics

This has every sign of failure and desperation by the pro forces and the Mayor is in hiding cause he knows the stain of failure will be on him


Today, the Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County released the following statement from Kansas City Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman about the Crossroads ballpark proposal and the development around Oak Street:

“I want to thank Mayor Quinton Lucas for his leadership and tireless advocacy as we work to make the best possible ballpark district in downtown Kansas City,” said John Sherman, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals. “We have been listening to members of the Crossroads community and had thoughtful conversations with the Mayor and City Council to improve the ballpark district impact. Through these conversations we have come to realize the importance of keeping Oak Street open. We acknowledge Oak Street is an integral part of the downtown experience, and therefore we agree to change the ballpark district design to keep Oak Street open. We look forward to working with the Mayor and City Council to begin this joint effort.”

So they really dont have a real solid plan at all