The Kansas City Royals have named Mortenson and McCownGordon, working as a joint venture, alongside JE Dunn, as construction partners for their proposed $3bn crown jewel ballpark and mixed-use development at Crown Centre.
The firms that will bring to life the 1.25 million square feet, open-air stadium, planned to provide seating for approximately 34,000 fans, and transform an 85-acre zone into the largest sports-anchored downtown district in Major League Baseball (MLB).
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Mortenson | McCownGordon will serve as construction manager at risk for the stadium itself, combining Mortenson’s experience in major league ballpark builds with McCownGordon’s local construction track record.
Construction firm JE Dunn will lead work on the surrounding mixed-use neighbourhood, which is planned to include entertainment, hospitality, retail, residential and public spaces.
The project, described as the largest economic development initiative in Kansas City’s history, stems from a partnership between the Royals and Hallmark Cards.
Royals Real Estate and Development president Brooks Sherman said: “We’re proud to bring these outstanding construction companies together to build a world-class ballpark that will be seamlessly integrated with a best-in-class mixed-use development.
“We have always said this is about more than a ballpark, and this combination of national pedigree with incomparable local expertise will produce the best possible entertainment destination for our hometown.”
Plans for the new stadium and accompanying district were first presented by the Royals in February 2024 as part of their ambition to anchor the team in a dynamic urban neighbourhood.
The current stadium, Kauffman Stadium, has housed the Royals since 1973.
The decision to move forward at the Crossroads District follows assessments of alternative sites in the East Village and North Kansas City, both of which were shortlisted in 2023.
However, the Crossroads returned to focus over the winter, with the South Loop Park Project playing a significant role, according to MLB.
The South Loop initiative proposes to build a park covering sections of Interstate 670 in downtown Kansas City, and under current plans, could be extended further east to integrate more closely with the Royals’ development. Funding arrangements for this extension are yet to be finalised.
The Royals’ new stadium and district development is expected to be majority privately funded, with claims it will bring substantial investment and job creation to downtown Kansas City.
At the time of announcing the location, the MLB projected the new stadium to be ready by the 2028 MLB season.
