I’d really hoped to be writing this week about the Royals State Championship. Of course, if that was the case, the article would have been up 36 hours ago. The hits keep on coming for the Royals as they are now on pace to lose a franchise record 114 games. Fans just spent the entire weekend watching, listening to, and loathing their counterparts from the East as they got to see up close how fun it must be to be a fan of a good team. But none of these things are on my mind this Monday because there is something more important at hand. The city of Kansas City, Missouri is gravely close to opening the door for the Royals to walk right out, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.The stadium issue has been a touchy one for sometime now. First of all, the bi-state tax failed. This was neither a surprise nor a disappointment for many Royals fans. Many thought the Royals would now be able to pursue a downtown stadium, which is the overwhelming favorite amongst Royals fans. But after a committee began researching the issue, the Glass family came out and quashed it, saying that at this time, the Royals were not interested in moving downtown. This move totally baffled me then, and I’ve still yet to find the reasoning behind it. Finally, the Chiefs and local Senators introduced Bill 269 asking for the taxes from professional athletes to pay for the upgrades needed to the stadiums. This plan was bulletproof and made sense to everyone….except the House of Representatives. Which leads us to where we are now; absolutely nowhere. The Jackson County Sports Authority will default on the lease with both the Chiefs and Royals if they fail to find the cash to make the proper renovations. If that happens, David Glass’ next move is anyone’s guess.
As I said before, the news I’ve just reported is not bad news. If David Glass handles this well, it could be very good news. It is time for the Royals to leave Kansas City……Missouri that is. Playing second fiddle is one thing, but right now the Royals are playing fourth. As long as the St. Louis area has a larger percentage of the population, they will have more representation in the House. I understand this, and have no problem with it. When the NFL Cardinals left St. Louis (and even before) the Chiefs became THE football team in Missouri. With the Rams recent success that has tipped a bit, but it’s still a close race with many Kansas City Chiefs/ St. Louis Cardinals fans in middle and southern Missouri. All of these factors lead to one thing, not enough fight for the Royals. I’m just hoping Glass has surrounded himself with enough competent people that someone else has already noticed this, because it may not be news in Arkansas.
uming Mr. Glass has been made aware of the situation, and assuming that the Jackson County Sports Authority doesn’t come up with millions of dollars out of nowhere, the Royals have only one choice, to move west. Whether to Overland Park or Wyandotte County, the Royals would be a welcome addition to the state of Kansas. They’d instantly go from being a joke in their own state, to being the toast of the town. Think the State of Kansas is going to have a problem finding money for the Royals? Wyandotte County has experienced the benefits of professional sports up close with NASCAR. You can bet they’d welcome the Royals with open arms.
so, there’s the issue of the fans, what few there are left. Many argue that Wyandotte County is too far to drive on a regular basis for a Royals game. For who? What percentage of the 12,000 fans that visit Kauffman Stadium on a regular basis live considerably closer to the K? I’d guess not that many, and even so, if you’re going to go watch a team lose 65% of their games an extra five or ten minute drive isn’t going to keep you away. I’d be willing to bet there’s a lot more people on the Kansas side of the line that would be willing to support the team if it were in their own backyard. Maybe not for a long time, but a two or three year spike in attendance could be pivotal for the Royals, especially if it comes 5-6 years from now when many of the Royals future stars are becoming first time free agents.
In closing there’s only one more piece of information I’d like to know concerning a possible Royals move: former owner Ewing Kauffman’s wishes. True, it is well known that Mr. Kauffman had no intentions of the Royals ever leaving Kansas City. In fact, he made it very difficult for the current ownership to move the team. But does this include a fifteen mile move across the state line? Wouldn’t you think, with the current economic situation of the Royals, Kauffman would do whatever it took to help keep competitive baseball in the area? I would.
FEARLESS FORECAST:
I’m not saying I am the first one to present this idea but I won’t be the last. Assuming the situation stays the same, it won’t be long before someone is trying to lure either the Chiefs or the Royals across the state line. The Royals messed up by not moving to the National League, but sitting on their hands this time could cost them much more.
Mike Sweeney is on pace to hit 32 home runs, 47 doubles, and drive in 122 runs. Yet still the talk is all about trading Sweeney. My thoughts? Not happening. Sweeney’s contract goes through 2007, the year the Royals seem to be building towards. There is no reason to think that at approximately 13 million dollars he won’t be a bargain.
Jose Lima is one meltdown away from involuntary retirement. You see it in his eyes when he’s struggling; he’s a time bomb waiting to explode. I’m just not sure if the Royals will wait that long. One way or the other, Lima is not pitching in KC by the All Star Break.<br>