Crowd walks out of Royals, Crown Center meeting after Q&A is ended amid outbursts

A public meeting Monday night about the proposed Kansas City Royals stadium at Crown Center ended earlier than expected after tensions rose and attendees walked out, with several residents calling for a public vote on the project.

The meeting, held at the Regnier Theatre inside Union Station, focused on the Royals' plans to build a new stadium in the southern portion of the Crown Center district. During the first hour, Royals representatives and Crown Center officials outlined details about the proposed rezoning, traffic patterns, parking plans and other aspects of the development.

Despite the presentation, many attendees said they left with more questions than answers.

Thomas Moran, a resident of the nearby San Francisco Towers, said he believes the project could benefit the area but criticized what he described as a lack of transparency.

"Parking is essential, and so is chilled water," Moran said. "We receive chilled water through the existing service, and there are still many details that haven't been clearly explained. I understand there will be additional phases, but I think officials could provide more clarity than they did tonight."

Supporters of the proposal, including local labor organizations, argued the development would provide a significant economic boost to the region.

Ralph Oropeza, business manager for the Greater Kansas City Construction Trade Council, said the project is expected to create approximately 1,000 construction jobs while also increasing business for nearby restaurants and retailers.

"Those construction workers will be spending money in this community every day," Oropeza said. "Small businesses surrounding the stadium will absolutely see an impact."

The Royals officially submitted their rezoning application on June 29. According to the proposal, the planned ballpark district would serve as a year-round mixed-use destination featuring professional baseball, concerts, festivals, community events, private gatherings and other entertainment opportunities.

Monday's public meeting was part of the rezoning review process.

As frustrations grew, several attendees left before the meeting concluded, saying they wanted more opportunities for public input and questioned whether the stadium should be a priority.

Resident Fran Marion said the city has more pressing concerns to address.

"We have issues with homelessness and other challenges that deserve attention," Marion said. "A stadium isn't the most important thing right now."

Following the meeting, neither Royals nor Crown Center officials provided additional comments.

The proposal is scheduled to move to the next stage of the approval process when the Kansas City Planning Commission reviews the rezoning request during its Aug. 5 meeting.