Kansas City Royals Departure Risks BILLIONS Invested Downtown

We're coming down to the wire of an EPIC decision by the Kansas City Royals and the result could make or break the destiny of business inside the downtown loop.

Sadly, local media has done a mediocre job conveying facts of the situation to the public and the Royals front office is only working for their own advantage . . . So it's up to our TKC blog community to make it plain.

Here's what should be the main takeaway for stakeholders . . .

IF KANSAS CITY ROYALS ABANDON DOWNTOWN STADIUM PLANS, BILLIONS WORTH OF INVESTMENT WILL BE THREATENED!!!

Capital markets are cruel and we need to look at how this move will look to credit holders, developers and investors . . .

If the Royals choose NKC over Downtown . . . Then the team has rejected: 

- Hundreds of millions worth of entertainment district offerings.

- Hundreds of millions worth of infrastructure repair. 

- Tens of millions dedicated to the streetcar starter line.

Make no mistake, this is a significant slap in the face that will be heard across the nation.  

And yes there will be consequences . . . 

Already downtown is no longer the fastest growing section of Kansas City proper. 

A move by the Royals to the nice side of the bridge holds all of these consequences & more . . .

- Risks credit rating downgrade.

- Erodes investor confidence. 

- Thwarts so much speculative land deals already depending on the move inside the loop.

In short . . . 

KANSAS CITY ROYALS MOVING TO NKC WOULD SHIFT MOMENTUM AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN THAT COULD WORSEN THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC!!!

Truth be told . . . 

Downtown KC still hasn't recovered from from COVID and empty office buildings and streets are an obvious sign of this trend. 

In fact . . .

Life inside the loop has been in a holding patterns and it seems that many big money players are waiting for the outcome of this decision in order to proceed with their plans.

If this decision doesn't go our way, KCMO would likely see a flight of investment and so many speculators picking up stakes. 

Whilst we certainly don't care about the fate of fools and their money . . . What follows isn't pretty. 

THE RISK OF ROYALS REJECTING KANSAS CITY THREATENS AN ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT THAT DOESN'T OFFER MUCH HOPE GOING FORWARD!!!

As we've mentioned previously . . .

We believe the Royals seeking refuge from historic surging homicides is a predictable outcome of bad municipal policy. 

However . . .

The impact of the move wouldn't stop downtown and might also risk the future of The Country Club Plaza, Crossroads and so many other tourist attractions. 

It'll be hard to convince people that so many Mexicans taking the bus here to watch the World Cup makes up for the departure of Major League American baseball that has been part of modern Kansas City history. 

Meanwhile . . .  

The only hope here is that billionaire owner John Sherman sees the devastation he might case and delays his decision for a better deal. 

The fate of Kansas City is literally in his hands right now given a great deal of inaction, incompetence and posturing by 12th & Oak leadership that has been woefully ambivalent about keeping the team insider city limits despite obvious economic risks. 

Developing . . .