North Kansas City has emerged as the backup for a proposed Royals ballpark should a deal strike out at the East Village downtown site, according to sources familiar with both locations.
While North Kansas City was considered an outlier when it was listed among 14 potential ballpark locations in and around downtown by the Royals last December, its ranking has risen considerably because of a major land deal.
One of Kansas City’s most powerful business families, the Merrimans of Financial Holding Corp., has assembled almost 100 acres in the heart of North Kansas City, according to news first reported by the Kansas City Business Journal.
Although the Royals still are believed to be considering the East Village as their top choice, should its developer, VanTrust Real Estate, stumble in assembling the 15-acre site, the Merriman interests would be ready to step in quickly with a far larger location.