KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals and Hallmark Cards announced plans Wednesday for a proposed new stadium and large-scale mixed-use development at Crown Center, a project leaders say would bring billions in private investment and reshape one of Kansas City’s most recognizable districts.
The proposed development would include a new Royals ballpark, surrounding mixed-use space and reimagined headquarters for both the Royals and Hallmark. Officials said the broader project would span 85 acres and center around a park-like public square with fountains.
According to the announcement, the project is expected to generate more than 20,000 construction jobs and bring at least $2 billion in private investment, which organizers say would make it the largest private development investment in Kansas City history.
“Our founder Ewing Kauffman wanted the Royals to be Kansas City’s forever, and he wanted the team to benefit his hometown as much as possible,” Royals CEO and chairman John Sherman said in a statement. “Joining Hallmark with this project achieves both and extends the Hall family’s critical legacy of helping Kansas City grow.”
Hallmark Executive Chairman Don Hall Jr. said the project would bring the Royals’ identity back to the neighborhood where it began.
“When the new Royals stadium opens at Crown Center, something proud will come full circle,” Hall said in a statement. “The iconic Royals crown that Hallmark created will return to the very neighborhood where it was conceived. Every time a fan walks through the stadium doors, they’ll be standing in a place shaped by Kansas City and Hallmark’s creative spirit.”
The total project would be funded primarily by the Royals and private investors, with additional public support expected from the City of Kansas City and Missouri’s Show-Me Sports Investment Act.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe praised the announcement, calling it a major commitment to the state and region.
“Today’s announcement reinforces that the State of Missouri is not just where the Kansas City Royals play but where they belong,” Kehoe said in a statement. “This decision by the Royals to invest in our state is more than just a commitment to Kansas City, it is a commitment to communities and fans across Missouri.”
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also backed the plan, saying the public-private partnership would help connect neighborhoods, support downtown growth and keep Major League Baseball in the city for generations.
Project leaders said the development would build on existing infrastructure investments, including the KC Streetcar, while taking advantage of nearby parking and improving walkability around the stadium site.
If completed, officials said the move would place Royals baseball among the top 10 most walkable ballpark experiences in Major League Baseball.
The proposal marks a significant step in the Royals’ long-running effort to determine the franchise’s future home, with the club now formally aligning with Hallmark on a plan centered at Crown Center.