Acknowledging community input, Royals announce major change to Crossroads stadium plans

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Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman has a message to the Kansas City community: "We're listening."The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County released a statement from Sherman Wednesday morning announcing major changes to plans for a new baseball stadium in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads district. That change, Sherman said in the statement, is scaling back to protect an integral stretch of road. Sherman is talking to the media ahead of the Royals' Opening Day game on Thursday. The owner and CEO downplayed the effect that the changes would have on the team's stadium plans.You can watch his press conference in full in the video player below. He says the change comes after "thoughtful conversation" with Mayor Quinton Lucas, the city council, and the community. "I want to thank Mayor Quinton Lucas for his leadership and tireless advocacy as we work to make the best possible ballpark district in downtown Kansas City," Sherman said. "We have been listening to members of the Crossroads community and had thoughtful conversations with the Mayor and City Council to improve the ballpark district impact. Through these conversations we have come to realize the importance of keeping Oak Street open. "We acknowledge Oak Street is an integral part of the downtown experience, and therefore we agree to change the ballpark district design to keep Oak Street open. We look forward to working with the Mayor and City Council to begin this joint effort."Original plans for the site included the new stadium along with a hotel, team offices, and a residential and entertainment venue stretching west to east along Truman Road between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, down to 17th Street. Part of the contention with this project included the closure of Oak Street in that block, partly where the new stadium would divide from the proposed ballpark district, hotel, conference center, and more. In addition, a representative of the Kansas City Royals added, "We are committed for Oak Street to be open to pedestrians, bicyclists and cars. We have said all along that we are meeting with and listening to members of the Crossroads community, and this is an example of that work."We have always viewed our project as connecting downtown neighborhoods, and keeping this important artery open is consistent with that priority."Sherman's statement did not address what this change would mean for businesses currently operating in the area, like the newly opened Green Dirt on Oak.Owner Sarah Hoffman told KMBC 9 she handpicked the location for her business, which was set to open just weeks before the Royals announced the selection of a location in the Crossroads for the stadium."So much work has gone into this and so much planning, and so many people have been involved in the project helping me bring it along," Hoffman said, adding at the time that she hoped the Royals would reconsider their plans. "There's nothing that could replace what we've got here."Neither Sherman's statement, nor the statement from the Royals clarified what this means for the overall plan for the area, and if the plans for the hotel and conference center have been scrapped. The spokesperson added, "After the vote we will continue this collaborative and thoughtful process with the Mayor, City Council and Crossroads small businesses on integrating the ballpark district and neighborhood." This announcement comes as officials see a rise in early voting for the April 2 election partially accredited to the stadium sales tax issue on the ballot. And those early numbers are leading election officials to predict a higher-than-normal turnout on Election Day. And, a poll conducted by Remington Research Group through phone and text messaging indicates that 47 percent of voters would greenlight the "repeal and replace," while 46 would vote no. With a +/- 4.5 margin of error, that leaves predicted results extremely close.