Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals since 1973, is known for its aesthetic appeal, but the team is now exploring relocation options to boost community engagement and revenue, inspired by successful models like Truist Park in Georgia.

Since 2021, the Royals' stadium search has considered three main development models—suburban, urban neighborhood, and downtown—aiming to create vibrant environments that extend beyond game days.

The location choice reflects broader MLB trends, balancing aesthetics, accessibility, community integration, and economic impact on the city and its surroundings.

The suburban model proposes relocating to areas like Johnson County, Kansas, around 119th and Nall, which would require significant infrastructure upgrades and reliance on car travel, potentially making it the least walkable MLB stadium site.

The in-city but not downtown model considers sites like North Kansas City, emphasizing neighborhood parks with historic charm, but would also need infrastructure improvements.

The downtown model envisions a stadium at Washington Square Park, integrating into Kansas City’s urban core to promote year-round activity, transit access, and downtown development, similar to successful examples like Camden Yards.

Kansas City’s evolving downtown and surrounding neighborhoods offer opportunities for a design that fosters a vibrant, character-rich environment, potentially making the Royals' new ballpark a catalyst for urban renewal and community engagement.