Royals affiliate strikes deal to take ownership of former Sprint campus

Yahoo

2 days ago

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Multiple sources have confirmed to FOX4 that a Royals-affiliated company has reached an agreement that will give it ownership of the Aspiria campus.
The deal between Wichita-based Occidental Management and the Royals affiliate means there will be no foreclosure that could have tied the property up during the process. Late in May, FOX4 confirmed that the team affiliate purchased the troubled mortgage.
'Turn yourself in': KC Mothers in Charge founder speaks on teen girl killed in shooting
The Kansas City Business Journal also reported that Occidental, the former owner of the old Sprint campus, had until Aug. 9 to make a more than $230 million balloon payment. The campus northwest of 119th and Nall is now known as Aspiria.
Monday's confirmation does not mean the Royals new stadium is moving to the Aspiria campus—but it does mean the group that bought it has control to do what they want, barring approval from leaders at Overland Park City Hall.
Fiserv, for instance, announced plans earlier this year to build a tech hub with 2,000 jobs on the Aspiria campus.
Before FOX4 confirmed the news late Monday afternoon, we spoke with former Jackson County Democratic Legislator Dan Tarwater – the brother of Kansas Republican State House Rep. Sean Tarwater, of Stilwell.
When it comes to the idea of a baseball stadium going up in Kansas, Dan wonders where the new sales tax revenue would come from to help pay off the project. On Thursday, Sean told FOX4 that Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds are triggered based on an increase in sales taxes from new commerce.
'It may be in the neighborhood of $300 or $400 million dollars,' Dan said regarding how much he thought a STAR Bond could generate for the Royals.
'That is nowhere near the $1.5 billion or $2 billion, if you have a stadium with a roof on it.'
Dan estimates $2 billion is what it will cost to build a new Royals stadium with a roof. The team has never talked publicly about putting a roof on their stadium, though.
FOX4's next question Monday was whether Dan thought the Royals could win a vote of the people on the Missouri side to continue getting county sales tax dollars in Jackson County.
'The Royals could win an election – but not in the political climate that we have right now,' he said in response.
Dan added that people like him and former Jackson County Sports Complex Authority Chair Mike Smith had all the contracts in place prior to the 2006 vote. The bonds for the stadium improvements that county taxpayers approved at that time for GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium will not be paid off until 2031.
Smith and Dan Tarwater work together at the Twin Lakes Insurance Company in Lee's Summit.
'Look, I don't think the Royals are going there (Aspiria). Why would they renew the leases?' Smith said to FOX4 Monday, talking about the existing and future businesses at Aspiria campus.
Smith said our area is short of the manpower it would take to build a stadium, too.
FOX4 asked Smith if a shortage in labor means the Royals need to make an announcement soon on where they plan to build their new stadium.
'Well the Royals can always play at the K in 2031,' Smith said in response. 'I mean look, if I'm them, I'm going to keep my cards against my chest as long as I can before I play my ace and win or lose.'
FOX4 reached out for independent confirmation from the Royals that their affiliate had taken over control of the Aspiria campus. As of early Monday evening, we have not heard back.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Solve the daily Crossword