KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals are getting a better idea of where their proposed $2 billion ballpark district will be located.
On Tuesday night, the team and other officials held a second community meeting to outline the vision for the district.
During the meeting, Royals chief operating officer Brooks Sherman said the team has narrowed the potential locations to four to five.
Though Sherman wasn't yet able to offer specifics, he did say it would be in or around downtown Kansas City.
The Royals have substantially trimmed down potential sites since last December, when the team said they were studying at least 14 different locations.
Members of Stand Up KC, an organization that represents fast food and retail workers, say they want a seat at the table during discussions about the ballpark district.
Bill Thompson, a member of Stand Up KC, was at the meeting and talked about things he wants clarified before decision is made.
"What will wages look like? How will we make sure that there is affordable housing for folks that are displaced?" Thompson said. "And affordable housing that will be built around the district — not just $100,000 condos."
Ahead of the meeting, Stand Up KC released a set of demands including ensuring disadvantage workers are hired; no unionization interference; establish and pay living wage; retain current stadium workers and address affordable housing.
KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas previously weighed in on where he believes the district will be located.
"The Royals will be somewhere, I'm predicting, between the river," Lucas said last November. "North of 31st Street, but let's be even clearer, probably north of the train tracks that are about at 22nd Street. And then probably somewhere between the state line and of course, I would say Woodland (Avenue)."
Discussion around the ballpark district will continue on Wednesday when the team holds a third community input meeting.
—
