Missouri Workers Power Seeks Public Vote on Royals Stadium

The advocacy group Missouri Workers Power submitted a formal request on September 1, 2026, to place a citywide vote on the April 2027 ballot regarding the funding of a new downtown baseball stadium for the Kansas City Royals. The initiative proposes a law requiring public approval for any future funding, planning, or permitting of sports and entertainment venues with more than 2,500 seats.

This legal challenge follows an August decision by the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri, to commit $600 million in public funds toward the $1.9 billion project. The council had previously failed to act on an initial petition by an August 31 deadline, prompting the group's formal request for a ballot measure.

Terrence Wise, leader of Missouri Workers Power, accused city leadership of attempting to rush the project to avoid a public vote. Mayor Quinton Lucas maintains that the stadium project will proceed as planned, arguing that a future ordinance would not affect agreements already passed by the council.