KC Royals in the Heart of the City
More than two years ago, I received a phone call from committed downtown supporter and Crossroads developer, Vince Bryant. What began with a spirited conversation born out of a passion for Kansas City became the design proposal for Washington Square Park as the new home for the Royals.
Early in the process we joked that no major league team has lost a home game in a BNIM designed ballpark, because there are none. There was never a thought that would change; Populous will design the new stadium. However, there was an opportunity to help create a path forward to determine the best location for the Royals’ downtown home. BNIM did what BNIM does best, stepping into a complex moment to address both community challenges and opportunities. Alongside Vince, Erik Wullschleger, and others, our team helped shape a clear vision and strategy for Washington Square Park and the former Blue Cross Blue Shield headquarters, reimagining them as a vibrant new destination for the Royals and a catalyst to keep the momentum alive and moving forward in the heart of the city.
BNIM first revealed our proposal to the Royals and later the city. Since then, we have engaged with Jackson County, Downtown Council, Union Station leadership, Hospital Hill leadership, and other community leaders. We later launched a website that has received support and elevated the conversation about the site. The questions and feedback we received affirmed that the comprehensive approach of imagining a new stadium as a public-private partnership will create an ecosystem that is both supportive of and supported by the new development.
Together this team including James Pfeiffer, Craig Scranton, and Hannah Gray from BNIM proved that Washington Square Park is a viable site, considering both the stadium site itself and the importance of its community context, including:
- Nearly 20,000 parking stalls within a four-block radius of the site
- Access from throughout the region via nine interstate highway access points
- The generous street network converging upon the site
- Streetcar connectivity that will enable 5,000 – 7,000 fans per game to be no more than a 15-minute journey away
- Abundant public park and plaza spaces
- Zero business displacements
The team recognized the nature and importance of this site as being the civic heart of our entire region. The Washington Square Park and the Blue Cross Blue Shield grounds are next door to Union Station, across Pershing from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and Crown Center, at the southern edge of the Crossroads Arts District, and the perfect viewing spot for the Downtown skyline. The team also capitalized on the site’s geographic connection to the Royals’ origins in 1969, Municipal Stadium, which was located at 22nd and Brooklyn. The Washington Square Park site, at 22nd and Main and 22nd and Grand, is not only a nod to the history of Municipal Stadium but also serendipitously pays tribute to the great Buck O’Neil, whose Monarch’s uniform number was 22.
There is another reason why this site is the right civic decision. This site fits in scale and reinforces and complements the architecture, infrastructure, and community context that is already a grand composition of this part of the city. Union Station, the Post Office/IRS complex, National WWI Museum and Memorial, the Western Auto Building, and the buildings along Grand east of the park all convene to create an environment like a catcher’s mitt ready to welcome the new stadium.
