Populous to design new Kansas City Royals ballpark

Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals have picked Populous as Architect of Record for their new Downtown ballpark and unveiled renderings of how it will look.

Designed to create one of the most intimate experiences in Major League Baseball, the approximately 34,000-seat, open-air Royals ballpark will bring fans closer to the field while connecting the game to downtown Kansas City and its surrounding community.

The new ballpark is distinctly Kansas City, drawing inspiration from the city’s character, landscape and architectural heritage.

Fitting comfortably within the city’s existing limestone bluff, its exterior architecture embraces elements that have defined Kansas City’s landmarks for decades.

Located within the Crown Center district, the site connects the Royals to an established downtown destination, provides the scale to build a true neighborhood around baseball and brings Hallmark alongside the Royals as a generational, Kansas City-born partner.    Earl Santee, Founder and Senior Principal, Populous said:

“We are honored to lead the design of a new ballpark for the Royals that feels unmistakably Kansas City.

“More than a ballpark, this will be a destination where memories are made, where generations of fans can celebrate the traditions they cherish and where Royals baseball connects to the heart of downtown as the team and the city begin an exciting new chapter in our hometown.”

Populous was a major sponsor of the 2026 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – focused on elevating the live experience – which took place at Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this month, with an Opening Night Icebreaker at Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium. Check out the Day 1 highlights video here.

The updated design honors the crown, fountains and traditions that have made Kauffman Stadium a beloved home for generations of Royals fans while creating a future-ready experience.

The ballpark’s entrance features limestone framed by a layered screen of light-colored materials, metal and terracotta. Above, a lightweight fabric canopy preserves the tradition of open-air baseball while helping manage Kansas City’s summer heat by shading approximately 65% of seating during late-afternoon conditions.

In the outfield, the right-field entertainment building and left-field Royals headquarters building will connect to the ballpark through two continuous 360-degree concourses, opening the seating bowl to views of Kansas City while creating a distinctive setting for immersive fan experiences including the Little K, CrownVision and iconic Royals’ fountains.

Royals President of Real Estate and Development Brooks Sherman said:

“This new neighborhood ballpark in the heart of Kansas City will lift our hometown’s profile and create jobs and economic activity that will benefit the community and Royals fans.

“We think of Populous as our hometown design team, but they are also the world’s leader in sports architecture. Kansas City and Royals fans deserve the best, and we’re proud to help provide it.”

Populous and the Royals share a decades-long relationship that includes multiple projects and renovations at Kauffman Stadium and the design of Surprise Stadium, the Royals’ spring training home in Arizona.

Source and images Populous

Check out the latest sports & entertainment venue development data from across the globe in the exclusive, subscription-only, SVB Global Report here.

#SportsVenueBusiness – The leading global platform for sector news, views & developments

#SVBLIVE – The leading global series of events for the live experience industry