KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have released six new renderings of their proposed downtown ballpark, offering a closer look at the team's vision for a new home near Crown Center.
The Royals and Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous unveiled the updated designs, which feature an approximately 34,000-seat, open-air stadium intended to bring fans closer to the action while incorporating elements of Kansas City's history and architecture.
The proposed Crown Center location would place the ballpark near an established downtown destination and provide room for surrounding development. The project would also bring together the Royals and Hallmark, two longtime Kansas City institutions.
“This new neighborhood ballpark in the heart of Kansas City will lift our hometown’s profile and create jobs and economic activity that will benefit the community and Royals fans,” Royals President of Real Estate and Development Brooks Sherman said. “We think of Populous as our hometown design team, but they are also the world’s leader in sports architecture. Kansas City and Royals fans deserve the best, and we’re proud to help provide it.”
The stadium's design draws inspiration from several Kansas City landmarks, including Municipal Auditorium, Union Station and the Liberty Memorial. Its exterior would incorporate limestone, metal and terracotta, complementing the natural limestone bluff surrounding the proposed site.
A lightweight fabric canopy would cover portions of the seating bowl, providing shade for approximately 65% of seats during late-afternoon conditions while maintaining the traditional outdoor baseball experience.
The design also pays tribute to Kauffman Stadium, incorporating familiar features such as the Royals' iconic fountains, crown imagery, CrownVision scoreboard and elements inspired by the Little K.
“We are honored to lead the design of a new ballpark for the Royals that feels unmistakably Kansas City,” said Populous Senior Principal and Founder Earl Santee. “More than a ballpark, this will be a destination where memories are made, where generations of fans can celebrate the traditions they cherish and where Royals baseball connects to the heart of downtown as the team and the city begin an exciting new chapter in our hometown.”
Plans call for a right-field entertainment building and a left-field structure that would house the Royals' headquarters. Both would connect to the stadium through two continuous 360-degree concourses, allowing fans to move throughout the facility while enjoying views of the Kansas City skyline.
Populous, founded in Kansas City more than 40 years ago, has designed several prominent Major League Baseball stadiums, including Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Yankee Stadium, PNC Park and Truist Park.
The firm has worked with 29 of MLB's 30 franchises and has an extensive history with the Royals, including renovations at Kauffman Stadium and the design of Surprise Stadium, the team's spring training facility in Arizona.
According to the team, approximately 90% of the design staff working on the proposed ballpark will be based in Kansas City.
The newly released renderings provide another look at the Royals' vision for a downtown stadium and surrounding entertainment district as the organization continues pursuing its long-term ballpark plans.
