Surprise! A third site has emerged in the Royals' quest for a new ballpark. Plus, the Royals make a couple of roster moves to protect players from next month's Rule 5 draft.
I'm excited about the possibility of the printing press site in a way I never was about the east village site. A proper skyline! The park that caps the interstate just outside the gates. The street car main line and soon a likely east west line too. This is a down town to be excited about! This is the beating heart of a growing and healthy city!
Sherman had a reputation as a civic minded kind of person before he asked for a blank check and our trust with a site that barely qualified as downtown baseball. Maybe a reset is what was needed.
I can understand the excitement. Of the three sites, this one is the most aesthetically pleasing for sure. Quite the circuitous route to get there. I suppose that won't matter if the team can learn to put one foot in front of the other and make this happen in a way that benefits the community and doesn't soak the taxpayers.
I should note that I don't live in Jackson or Missouri. If there were a tax I could vote for though I would for this site. And I'd happily pay it too. I strongly believe that cities need strong centers and an identity.
Yep, the ability to actually see the skyline be downtown adjacent makes this site more palatable to me. I still can't believe their first option was something facing away from downtown and towards an interstate highway. Like, what's the point?
The deadline is mid-January. They will need to move fast which means they’ll have to have everything in order. And if we’ve learned anything from this process, it’s that they are incapable of either. We’ll see.
Mr. O'B, Unless BWJ gets inked to a significant extension, the Royals might as well draw up plans for a new stadium on Neptune. And after all these shenanigans are done and dusted I hope Sherman has the guts to apologize to NKC for his string-along job.
I really think that a Witt extension happens. I do.
As for North Kansas City, it takes two to tango. They should’ve known from the start they were the longest of long shots. They were probably happy to be in the conversation.
Lord Merriman wouldn't allow Lord Sherman to appear to play him like that if he weren't getting something out of the deal. Even if it's only increased investor interest in his NKC project.
The clowns spearheading the NKC push need no apologies, as they got exactly what they want: reminding most of the metro that NKC is still there, first and foremost, and also open for business. One of the county commissioners also got a job at JE Dunn out of the deal, or so it appears. Mayor bank teller finally got to go to some real meetings with big boys downtown, too.
Anywhere but NKC is my vote. But, of the three - I'd go with this one.
More significant, because this is someone's career and livelihood, is the Staumont situation and I appreciated you talking about him and crediting him. He has been a joy to watch as a Royal and, as I recall, never suffered from Hosmerism. I hope Josh isn't done - but if he is, I hope he's reading and knows that we've appreciated the player and teammate he has been!
There is approximately zero developer interest in the east village mixed-use project that doesn't require ownership to take more risk than they can stomach.
Despite playing the NKC card, ownership remains too far apart with the city/county, and Jeff City isn't coming to the rescue.
Cordish - who has better data that anyone on downtown consumer behavior - knows KC cannot support two of these projects, and doesn't want another flailing competitor to its flailing P&L district. He is willing to dangle a modest carrot if the Royals will help stabilize P&L, which might let him sell down his position at a more favorable price than he's been able to thus far. Thus he's not taking much incremental risk, if any.
And, as before, local developers are nowhere to be found.
I'm excited about the possibility of the printing press site in a way I never was about the east village site. A proper skyline! The park that caps the interstate just outside the gates. The street car main line and soon a likely east west line too. This is a down town to be excited about! This is the beating heart of a growing and healthy city!
Sherman had a reputation as a civic minded kind of person before he asked for a blank check and our trust with a site that barely qualified as downtown baseball. Maybe a reset is what was needed.
I can understand the excitement. Of the three sites, this one is the most aesthetically pleasing for sure. Quite the circuitous route to get there. I suppose that won't matter if the team can learn to put one foot in front of the other and make this happen in a way that benefits the community and doesn't soak the taxpayers.
I should note that I don't live in Jackson or Missouri. If there were a tax I could vote for though I would for this site. And I'd happily pay it too. I strongly believe that cities need strong centers and an identity.
Yep, the ability to actually see the skyline be downtown adjacent makes this site more palatable to me. I still can't believe their first option was something facing away from downtown and towards an interstate highway. Like, what's the point?
I can't believe the Royals cut Tyler Gentry so they could keep Tyler Gentry!
I'm just kidding, of course.
I love your analysis of the stadium shenanigans. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one out here feeling cynical about the whole thing.
Fixed! This is what I get for posting on not enough sleep.
Can the Royals solve their site selection problem in time to get on the April ballot? It seems the clock is ticking
The deadline is mid-January. They will need to move fast which means they’ll have to have everything in order. And if we’ve learned anything from this process, it’s that they are incapable of either. We’ll see.
Mr. O'B, Unless BWJ gets inked to a significant extension, the Royals might as well draw up plans for a new stadium on Neptune. And after all these shenanigans are done and dusted I hope Sherman has the guts to apologize to NKC for his string-along job.
I really think that a Witt extension happens. I do.
As for North Kansas City, it takes two to tango. They should’ve known from the start they were the longest of long shots. They were probably happy to be in the conversation.
Lord Merriman wouldn't allow Lord Sherman to appear to play him like that if he weren't getting something out of the deal. Even if it's only increased investor interest in his NKC project.
The clowns spearheading the NKC push need no apologies, as they got exactly what they want: reminding most of the metro that NKC is still there, first and foremost, and also open for business. One of the county commissioners also got a job at JE Dunn out of the deal, or so it appears. Mayor bank teller finally got to go to some real meetings with big boys downtown, too.
Anywhere but NKC is my vote. But, of the three - I'd go with this one.
More significant, because this is someone's career and livelihood, is the Staumont situation and I appreciated you talking about him and crediting him. He has been a joy to watch as a Royal and, as I recall, never suffered from Hosmerism. I hope Josh isn't done - but if he is, I hope he's reading and knows that we've appreciated the player and teammate he has been!
I can translate this:
There is approximately zero developer interest in the east village mixed-use project that doesn't require ownership to take more risk than they can stomach.
Despite playing the NKC card, ownership remains too far apart with the city/county, and Jeff City isn't coming to the rescue.
Cordish - who has better data that anyone on downtown consumer behavior - knows KC cannot support two of these projects, and doesn't want another flailing competitor to its flailing P&L district. He is willing to dangle a modest carrot if the Royals will help stabilize P&L, which might let him sell down his position at a more favorable price than he's been able to thus far. Thus he's not taking much incremental risk, if any.
And, as before, local developers are nowhere to be found.