The Kansas City city council approved a $600 million commitment to help fund the Royals' new downtown ballpark, advancing a major step in the team's relocation plans.

In April, the Royals announced a partnership with Hallmark Cards on a $3 billion mixed-use development project, with the new stadium as the centerpiece. The city council's decision establishes the financial framework for the city's share, with potential use of a tax increment finance district to redirect tax revenue toward redevelopment.

The Royals have pledged to cover $760 million of the estimated costs, while the club and city aim to secure an additional $540 million from the state government. Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman called it the largest public-private economic development project in Kansas City's history.

The goal is to break ground on the $1.9 billion stadium in 2027, potentially opening by the 2030 season. The Royals will sign a 30-year lease and donate over $50 million to community groups. This comes as the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs plan a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, set to open in 2031.