KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Construction is expected to resume on the long-anticipated American Royal campus in western Wyandotte County as local officials move closer to approving key financing for the $375 million development.
The Unified Government’s Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to vote Thursday on approving $250 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds, a critical funding mechanism needed to restart work on the project. The bond approval would mark a major step forward for a development that has been years in the making.
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The American Royal first announced plans for the new campus nearly a decade ago, with the goal of relocating its historic headquarters from Kansas City’s West Bottoms to 550 acres near the Kansas Speedway. Construction initially began with the development of a livestock barn, but the project stalled amid financial challenges that slowed momentum.
Progress resumed last year when the Unified Government designated the project as a community improvement district, a move that cleared the way for public financing tools to be used. That decision positioned the American Royal to secure both local and state-backed funding sources.
In addition to the proposed $250 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds, the project will also rely on $155 million in STAR Bonds approved by the state of Kansas. Together, those funding sources are expected to cover a significant portion of the total construction cost.
The new campus will be built near 118th Street and Parallel Parkway, adjacent to the area where the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to develop a new stadium, placing the American Royal site within a growing regional sports and entertainment corridor.
Once completed, the campus is projected to draw up to one million visitors annually and host more than 200 livestock events, rodeos and exhibitions each year. Plans for the site include three arenas—two indoor and one outdoor—along with barns, an exhibition hall and an educational center focused on agriculture and youth programs.
Local leaders say the redevelopment is intended to spur economic activity in the area while expanding opportunities for community engagement, education and large-scale events.
If the bond package receives approval, construction on the American Royal campus is expected to continue steadily, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. Project leaders remain optimistic that the long-delayed development will soon move fully into its next phase.
Originally reported by Alyssa Mueller, Matt Stewart in Fox 4kc.
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