North Kansas City businesses hoping Clay County pursues Royals after stadium tax fails

NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - After the stadium sales tax vote failed in Jackson County, businesses in North Kansas City want Clay County to restart talks with the Royals. They want the team’s ballpark moved to the North Kansas City site.

“It would be the greatest thing to happen to North Kansas City,” said Jim Chappell, the founder of Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum. “It’s a generational thing.”

However, Clay County Presiding Commissioner, Jerry Nolte, does not think there is enough time to bring it up to a vote in 2024.

“We are not going to, in good conscience, I don’t see this commission putting something forward for consideration of the voters unless we feel that is in fact a good deal for the voters,” Nolte said Wednesday.

Still, business owners who talked to KCTV5 want to see the county re-enter stadium conversation. David Lee Wells has practiced law for more than five decades in North Kansas City. He thinks a North Kansas City Royals stadium would be a game-changer for Clay County.

“I would think so because it’s going to change the rest of the county,” Wells said.

“We’d still like to have it,” said Chappell. “We still think it’s the #1 place to have a stadium.”

Last fall, a survey found 47% of Clay County voters favored having a new ballpark district in North Kansas City. Group in favor of Clay County site for Royals ballpark unveils new ad campaign (kctv5.com) However, the county was strongly against a tax to fund the stadium projects, with 70% of respondents saying they’d vote ‘no’ on a new tax. Wells thinks the Chiefs and Royals need to have more concrete plans if they want the people of Clay County to approve a potential stadium tax.

“They have to be more upfront with what they intend to do,” Wells said. “On a big development like this, and like downtown, they need to have everything in writing and laid out legally. I don’t think the general population is very comfortable with rich guys saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry. Trust us.’”

Those in Clay County also think a Royals’ ballpark north of the river would bring the city together.

“It will make the river less wide,” Chappell said. “As it is, that river is very wide. You have the north and the south. I think to bring the stadium over here will bring the north and south together.”

Now, North Kansas City businesses hope their elected officials can find a way to bring their favorite baseball team into town.

“It’s a generational thing. It’s the best thing that could happen to us,” said Chappell. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime to get this stadium over here.”

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.