Dec 8th Stadium Town Hall: Basic Facts/Decision Makers for Royals Stadium Proposal
The original deadline for Kansas stadium proposals in the STAR bonds bill passed in the 2024 special session was June of 2025, but the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) voted to advance that to June 2026. However, the Chair and Vice Chair of the LCC, Ty Masterson and Dan Hawkins, have verbally stated that they are not inclined to entertain any proposals after 12/31/2025.
The Secretary of Commerce must present a proposal to the LCC for a vote before that deadline. You can get on the legislative interim meeting notification email list by emailing: Kathy.Cahill@las.ks.gov. If approved by the LCC, the proposal goes to the local government units and there is a 60-day window for public input. How to contact these decision makers:
John Sherman, KC Royals CEO: JSherman@MLPholdings.com
David Toland, KS Secretary of Commerce: David.Toland@ks.gov
cc: Rachel.Willis@ks.gov
Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council:
Johnson County Commissioner: Mike Kelly: mike.kelly@jocogov.org
Overland Park Government: Mayor Curt Skoog: mayor@opkansas.org
City Councilors: logan.heley@opkansas.org, holly.grummert@opkansas.org, melissa.cheatham@opkansas.org, drew.mitrisin@opkansas.org, richard.borlaza@opkansas.org, amy.scrivner@opkansas.org, gregg.riess@opkansas.org, amy.antrim@opkansas.org, inas.younis@opkansas.org, andrew.payne@opkansas.org, chris.newlin@opkansas.org,
Planning Committee: planningcommission@opkansas.org, brian.monberg@opkansas.org
Leawood Government: Mayor Marc Elkins: melkins@leawood.org
City Council (all members): allcouncil@leawood.org
Link to change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-construction-of-a-royals-stadium-in-aspiria
Aspiria Royals Stadium Concerns - Initial Community Forum
December 8, 2025
Mari-Lynn Poskin – Introduction from our Kansas representative. Mari-Lynn will let folks know she can act as a resource for residents throughout the area. The proposed stadium at 119 th and Nall would be built in Mari-Lynn’s district.
Quick Overview of Concerns:
Our primary concern is a lack of transparency about work already being done by Johnson County, the City of Overland Park and the Royals ownership.Residents should be informed and polled about billion-dollar projects that have the potential to fundamentally change the character of their community.
o To clarify, the Royals polled season ticket holders but no one - not the county, city of Overland Park, nor the Royals have made any attempt to determine if the potential Royals stadium at 119th and Nall would be embraced by the community in which it would reside.
o I-435 at the southern loop is routinely stop and go from west of Quivira to the Grandview Triangle.
o 69 highway is undergoing construction that will allow for access to an additional lane - if drivers can afford to pay the toll lane tax.
o The only additional highway feeding this geographic area is highway 150 which is 135th Street in Leawood and Overland Park and which is often stop and go.
o Drivers taking highway 150 will use State Line, Roe, Nall, or Metcalf to access 119 th , and all these main arteries are surrounded by residential single family or multi-family homes, parks, schools and pedestrian friendly amenities.
o There is no mass public transportation to this location. Buses will use the same roads fans and local residents use.
o Children’s Mercy South – 100 yards off Nall, 1.3 miles from Aspiria
o University of Kansas, on Nall, 1.5 miles from Aspiria
o St Luke’s South, on Metcalf, 1.9 miles from Aspiria
o Menorah, on Nall, steps from Aspiria
o St Joseph, off I-435, 3.8 miles from Aspiria
o Overland Park Regional off I-435, 5.4 miles from Aspiria
o While streets north of 435 in Overland Park are being “calmed” and “trimmed” to encourage safer traffic patterns, most existing main thoroughfare roads in southern OP are 4 and 6 lane roads (with added turn lanes.)
o City officials indicate roads near Aspiria will be widened if the Royals move to 119th and Nall.
o Nothing says “pedestrian friendly” like an 8-lane road with additional turn lanes!
o MLB traffic will bring nightmare traffic scenarios to business and retail patrons and workers over 80 days a year during Royals home games
o Concert and other special events will extend the number of days local residents must endure increased traffic
o Business and retail will experience parking issues and decreased patronage on game days.
o Crime will increase on game days
o Impaired driving will increase on game days
o While Royals fans may grab a beer or a bite to eat before or after the games, few will leave a 4-hour Royals game and feel like shopping. It is realistic to believe this will harm retail, not improve retail in the immediate area.
o The J is in constant motion with theater productions, performances, youth and adult education, fitness, youth sports and more.
o Access to the facilities would be greatly impaired on game days or during special events.
We love the Royals and sincerely hope they can move to a location that will ensure the team remains in the metro for many years to come. Further, we hope accessibility to the stadium by Kansas City Royals fans will be enhanced, not harmed by the team’s relocation. The location at 119 th and Nall, is not the best option for space or ease of travel.
The Aspiria campus doesn’t solve the Royals premier objective of moving the team to the urban core where the Royals can join other MLB teams whose stadiums are in vibrant, urban core locations that enhance an amazing city. Both of the existing, additional stadium location options – Downtown and North Kansas City – are better options for accomplishing the continued urban core vibrancy and for ensuring more highway access and safer traffic flows for patrons.