Though little noted, two options being circulated for a Downtown Kansas City Royals stadium move are in the Northland.
In a recent subscriber-only article in the Kansas City Business Journal, staff writer Thomas Friestad noted two of the 14 sites recently considered by a consultant for the Royals were north of the river. The remainder are clustered around Downtown, in the Crossroads, the West Bottoms and near the 18th and Vine District.
The Northland locations are interesting. One site is directly across the river from the Richard L. Berkeley Riverfront Park. This thin slice of land alongside the river is immediately east of the Heart of America Bridge.
The other, larger, location involves half a dozen blocks in North Kansas City bounded by Armour Road on the north and 15th Avenue on the south, and between Howell and Swift streets on the east and west. The area contains a former bowling alley and the Gold Buffet, as well as several parking lots.
Leaders of Populous, a consultant for the Royals, said the team has examined 14 possible sites for a $2 billion ballpark and baseball district, including the two north-of-the-river locations.
