The Royals' dreams of downtown baseball in 2028 were dashed Tuesday, after voters turned down a sales tax that would have funded a new ballpark in the Crossroads arts district.
A count of ballots showed 58% of voters rejecting a 3/8ths-cent sales tax to fund the ballpark and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs.
The measure's failure raises questions about the teams' next steps, as well as the future of both teams in Jackson County. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the Chiefs and Royals should re-evaluate their relationships with communities around the Crossroads Arts District and the Truman Sports Complex.
"We just had a very downtown conversation. And that is fine and an important part of our region. But east Kansas City, Raytown, Independence are important too," Lucas told KCUR's Up To Date.
"For the Royals, I do think that it needs to get back to the basics of the 'why' for downtown baseball."
