Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The Kansas City Royals are combining the best in national experience with unmatched local expertise by partnering with Mortenson and McCownGordon as well as JE Dunn to build a $3 billion mixed-use development anchored by a world-class new ballpark at Crown Center.
The Mortenson | McCownGordon joint venture will serve as Construction Manager at Risk for the 1.25-million-square-foot open-air stadium with approximately 34,000 seats. JE Dunn will partner in shaping the surrounding live-work-play neighborhood across the broader 85-acre district, the largest sports-anchored downtown development in baseball.
The project comes through a partnership between the Royals and Hallmark Cards – two of Kansas City’s most iconic and beloved brands – to bring Major League Baseball, a state-of-the-art fan experience, and the largest economic development project in Kansas City history.
Together, this majority privately funded project will bring new investment, thousands of jobs and lifelong memories downtown while securing both the Royals and Hallmark in Crown Center for generations.
Mortenson | McCownGordon brings together two industry leaders with the nation’s most experienced MLB stadium builder with one of Kansas City’s most established construction partners. Their joint venture partnership is uniquely qualified to construct a ballpark that will proudly serve Kansas City for generations.
JE Dunn is the largest builder in Kansas City and one of the leading builders in the nation. A 102-year-old company founded and headquartered in Kansas City; JE Dunn brings extensive experience delivering complex, large-scale developments that serve communities for generations. The project represents an opportunity to create a vibrant urban neighborhood that connects sports, entertainment, retail, hospitality, residential and public spaces in the heart of the city.
SUPPORT FROM KANSAS CITY AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS
“We’re proud to bring these outstanding construction companies together to build a world class ballpark that will be seamlessly integrated with a best-in-class mixed-use development. We have always said this is about more than a ballpark, and this combination of national pedigree with incomparable local expertise will produce the best possible entertainment destination for our hometown.” – Brooks Sherman, Royals President of Real Estate and Development
“We’re honored to have the opportunity to help build the new home for the Royals and be part of a transformational project that will have a lasting impact on Kansas City. Together with McCownGordon, we bring deep sports construction experience and capacity, forming a partnership with longstanding roots and relationships in this community. We are committed to building on our Kansas City experience of T-Mobile Center and Science City at Union Depot, combined with industry leading performance that’s been proven while building some of the country’s most significant sports venues. Our team will collaborate closely with the Royals and local partners to create a landmark Kansas City can be proud of for generations.” – Logan Gerken, Mortenson Sports + Entertainment Vice President and General Manager
“We are grateful and excited to be part of creating a new home for the Royals and know their commitment to Kansas City will have a lasting economic and cultural impact on our region. As a Kansas City-founded company, this opportunity is especially meaningful to us. We are honored to partner with Mortenson while working alongside civic leaders, local businesses, trade partners and community stakeholders to deliver a venue that will strengthen our region for generations. Beyond creating an exceptional destination, we are honored to help build something that reflects the spirit and pride of the people who call this region home.” – Ramin Cherafat, McCownGordon Construction Chairman and CEO
“We are honored to help deliver a project of this significance to Kansas City. The Ballpark District represents a meaningful investment in economic growth, community connection and the city’s future. It is the kind of transformational development where local knowledge, deep construction expertise and a commitment to lasting community outcomes matter.”- Gordon Lansford, JE Dunn President and CEO
“We’re excited about these selections and the men and women of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council are ready to get to work. The Royals have already committed to the Missouri Works Initiative, which expands access and creates entry points into well-paying construction industry jobs. Today’s announcement is a great step forward in bringing those jobs to our friends and neighbors right here in Kansas City.” - Ralph Oropeza, Business Manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council
“This transformational project is happening and it’s going to be a huge win for working families. This selection announcement begins an exciting new chapter for the workers who will welcome fans to the ballpark district. The men and women of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO are proud to be powering the largest economic development project in our city’s history.”- Duke Dujakovich, President of the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO
“The Kansas City Royals baseball district at Crown Center will transform not only our community, but also construction design nationally, aligning first-in-class builder expertise with a project that blends urban redevelopment, transit-oriented perspective and a mixed-use district that will be unmatched in quality residential, entertainment, convention and hotel options within feet of home plate. As global leaders in their industry with a heavy emphasis on hometown employers, the exceptional design team announced today will create a project built for year-round engagement and activity that will still match the legacy of Kauffman Stadium, Municipal Stadium and the greatest parks and districts in Major League Baseball.” - Quinton Lucas, Kansas City Mayor
ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS: The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team operated by a hometown ownership group led by Chairman and CEO John Sherman. Ewing Kauffman founded the club in 1969 because, in his words, “I believe the people of Kansas City deserved a Major League Baseball team.” No MLB team founded along with or since can match the Royals four American League pennants and two World Series Championships. Since Sherman’s purchase, the Royals won the Bud Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in 2021 and been a finalist three other times.
ABOUT MORTENSON: Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top 10 developer, builder and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional and energy sectors. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services helps its customers move their strategies forward, ensuring their investments become high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers. Mortenson is a leader in sports and entertainment projects with other recent completed and in-progress projects including T-Mobile Center (Kansas City), Chase Center (Golden State Warriors), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders), Energizer Park (St. Louis CITY SC), Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle Kraken), U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings), Continental Coliseum (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Athletics Ballpark (Las Vegas Athletics). For additional information, visit www.mortenson.com.
ABOUT MCCOWNGORDON: McCownGordon is a 100 percent employee-owned construction management firm recognized among the nation’s leading builders. Founded in Kansas City, the company partners with clients across the country to deliver complex projects in the commercial, healthcare, education, civic, industrial and manufacturing and sports and entertainment sectors. With expertise spanning preconstruction through project delivery, McCownGordon combines the resources, insight and capabilities of a national firm with the responsiveness and relationships of a local partner. Driven by a purpose to improve lives, the company helps clients create high performing facilities that strengthen communities, support economic growth and leave a lasting impact. McCownGordon has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal 19 times. It is also recognized as a Fortune Best Construction Company to Work For.
ABOUT JE DUNN: JE Dunn’s hometown pride drives our commitment to shaping Kansas City’s skyline. As a top 10 domestic general contractor with more than 6,000 employees across 27 offices, JE Dunn is recognized nationally for delivering complex civic, commercial, healthcare, higher education and sports-related projects nationwide. As a family and employee-owned company, our people take immense pride in the craftsmanship and community connections our projects inspire.