Washington Square Park and the soon-to-be vacated Blue Cross and Blue Shield building have recently emerged as a potential site for a new downtown Royals ballpark.
In January 2024, Vince Bryant of 3D Development gathered a team of architects, real estate brokers, attorneys and PR experts to explore whether Washington Square Park might make the perfect spot for the community and the Royals. The group recently unveiled a series of preliminary stadium renderings illustrating how it might look at the downtown location.
The group claims the site has many advantages for the community and negates concerns that arose surrounding the controversial Crossroads’ site, such as pushing out mom and pop businesses to make room for a new stadium.
According to welovekcbaseball.com, the website launched by the development group to explain the new plan, the proposed stadium site has lots of benefits:
Some of the benefits highlighted on their site include:
- Zero business displacements
- Ample ancillary development opportunities surrounding the site
- Surrounded by existing class-A real estate
- Abundant access points whether fans walk, drive, ride or bike
- Nine interstate connections within a 5-minute drive
- Surrounded by large-scale attractions
Additionally, the website touches on abundant parking in the area, stating that there are nearly 19,000 parking spots within a four-block radius of the site. The KC Streetcar was also noted, saying that 2,500 people per hour could be delivered to the location.
It’s reported that 3D Development has been in communication with the Royals. However, there’s no confirmation whether the Royals have been directly involved with the new plans.. Mayor Quinton Lucas recently endorsed the Washington Square Park location.
This team behind the project includes 3D Development, BNIM Architects, Cushman & Wakefield, Withers Brant and Highline Partners. See the renderings below, provided by BNIM Architects.
