Latest news with #Aspiria
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royals affiliate strikes deal to take ownership of former Sprint campus
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
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Leawood official weighs in on Royals stadium issue
LEAWOOD, Kan.- The old Sprint campus now known as Aspiria in Overland Park's city limits northwest of 119th Street and Nall Avenue, but just on the east side of Nall Ave., is the city of Leawood, not Overland Park. Leawood leaders wouldn't speak to FOX4 on camera, but they actually sent us a statement on this issue on Friday, July 25. The reason we haven't released that until now is that they wouldn't talk to us on camera that day or on August 7. Travis Kelce on Chiefs success, storied career: 'I've been lucky to be here' One person who talked to us Thursday, though, was Republican State House Representative Sean Tarwater from Stilwell. 'We strongly support our local sports teams and the sense of community and pride they bring to our region,' Leawood Strategic Communications Director Beth Breitenstein said. 'If a site in close proximity to Leawood is ultimately selected by the Royals, we look forward to engaging with the community on this opportunity.' 'I think that they're hearing feedback from their constituents of the concern of it being in the Leawood proximity,' Tarwater said after FOX4 read him Leawood's statement. Tarwater says he thinks there's a traffic concern from people in this area. Tarwater added that nothing's been decided. 'There's going to have to be a lot of thought and effort put into infrastructure to alleviate the traffic issues,' he continued. 'Currently, it's already congested as it is. You add in another 20 to 30 thousand people into the mix on a daily basis, 81 games a year over the summer, you're going to cause quite a mess.' The Kansas City Royals wouldn't comment on our story Thursday, but questions have been raised about the 119th and Nall site after the team announced in late May that an affiliate of theirs bought the mortgage on the Aspiria campus. Team Chairman and CEO John Sherman is looking for a new stadium for his team once their lease is done at Kauffman Stadium after the 2030 Major League Baseball season. A look back at Freddy Fermin's unique time with the KC Royals Park Place is just northeast of 119th and Nall in Leawood's city limits. Resident Teddy McIntosh told FOX4 Thursday he doesn't think that site across the street in Overland Park is a good idea for the Royals. 'I know what the stadiums over there where they're at now, everything around it is kind of a blighted area,' McIntosh said. 'The Adam's Mark big hotel has just been sitting vacant for I don't know how many years now, and is that what we want to our area? I don't think we do.' The Adam's Mark Hotel, east of Kauffman Stadium, has been vacant since 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Concerns, calls for action grow amid 119th and Nall Royals stadium rumors
LEAWOOD, Kan. — FOX4 has more reaction to the thought of a baseball stadium going in at 119th Street and Nall Avenue in Overland Park. The old Sprint Campus, now known as Aspiria, is in Overland Park's city limits. Just east of Nall, and north of that stated location, though, are Leawood's city limits. The Kansas City Royals wouldn't comment on this FOX4 story Thursday or Friday. Leawood official weighs in on Royals stadium issue Back in March, though, Chairman and CEO John Sherman told reporters he did not envision his team playing at Kauffman Stadium in 2031. The lease for his team ends before their 2031 season begins. Angela and Tony Bertocchini live more than ten minutes from 119th and Nall, but they don't want a stadium going in at that intersection. Our first question for Angela late Friday afternoon was whether she was concerned the Royals were serious about that site. 'My first thought was, 'No way.' There's just, logistically, it does not make sense,' Angela said. 'But then when I started hearing a little bit more, 'Oh, this is a serious option they're considering,' I thought, 'Oh wow. We better start speaking out against this as citizens of this area so close.'' Angela said she thinks citizens of Leawood and Overland Park would potentially band together to try to fight a stadium development at 119th and Nall. She says people move to those cities because of the 'small community feel' it has, being close to the grocery store and the ability to walk their children to school. 'I can't imagine their thought would be, 'Oh, I hope I'm right next door to a baseball stadium where thousands of fans can come pooling into my neighborhood,'' Angela said. Late in May, FOX4 confirmed an affiliate of theirs bought the mortgage on the Aspiria campus. Republican State House Rep. Sean Tarwater says if the Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond District's drawn into Leawood, and that city wanted to give their increased sales tax revenue back to pay off the development, that city council would have to vote on it. Friday, FOX4 also talked to Angela's husband, Tony Bertocchini, as well. 'The community engagement needs to probably start very soon if they're serious about moving the ball team to Overland Park,' Tony said Friday. 'You've got to have people that are going to be upset about the traffic impact, the impact to schools in the area. I think about the elementary school, the high school that are right across the street there.' Royals on Roku: How to watch the Kansas City Royals for free on Sunday Late in July, Leawood's Strategic Communications Director Beth Breitenstein told FOX4 that Leawood strongly supports the sense of community pride the local sports teams bring to our region. Leawood leaders have not been willing to talk on camera about it, though. 'If a site in close proximity to Leawood is ultimately selected by the Royals, we look forward to engaging with the community on this opportunity,' the city statement goes on to say. 'Not yet,' Angela said when asked if she and her husband had reached out to the Leawood City Council. 'But I plan to.' with Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog and his challenger, Faris Farassati, about this very issue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Potential Royals move to Kansas sparks mixed reaction in Overland Park
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — With the future of a new Royals stadium in Missouri still uncertain, Kansas may be stepping up to the plate. FOX4 has learned the Royals are now eyeing the former Sprint campus—now known as Aspiria—as a possible site for a new stadium. The by a business affiliate connected to the team. Kansas City gearing up to host six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup But while some fans are excited by the idea, not everyone is ready to crown this location as a home run. Jesse Rodriguez, who works at Guitar Center, is chief among the skeptics, but for good reason. 'Taking away land from businesses and the lack of notice,' he said. Rodriguez also works in the Crossroads District and says he saw firsthand how the Royals' previous . 'We're kind of in the middle of Johnson County, so that can be hard to manage traffic flow, movement, people getting there, hotels that they'll need. I think we need to incentivize stadiums in our cities or our states, but I don't think we need to be walked over,' he said. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Former Overland Park councilman and current mayoral candidate Dr. Faris Farassati says many residents he's heard from are not on board. 'The area's design was never intended to accommodate such development,' Farassati said. 'It's noteworthy that while the city is gathering feedback on a new logo, there appears to be no attempt to gauge public interest in placing a stadium in this corridor.' Another current council member echoed that concern, telling FOX4 the city would need major infrastructure improvements in and around the area—including traffic systems and housing support—before anything could move forward. Cherrie Duensing, owner of Best Regards Bakery, located across the street from Aspiria, said she'd love to see the Royals make the move—when there is a clear plan. 'We're big Kansas City fans,' she said. 'But if they could be as clear as possible—what kind of timeline we're looking at, letting us know about possible detours or construction—that would help.' FOX4 reached out to the City of Overland Park with several questions. In response, Mayor Curt Skoog said 'Overland Park is supportive of our hometown teams. We know the Chiefs and Royals belong in the Kansas City region and will do everything in our power to keep them here.' Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Stay with FOX4 for continuing coverage as this story develops—on air and online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Royals confirm affiliate bought Aspiria campus mortgage in Overland Park
The Kansas City Royals confirmed Wednesday that an affiliate purchased the mortgage on the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. The news, first reported by The Kansas City Business Journal, was confirmed by the team in a statement Wednesday afternoon. However, the statement also says the team has not selected a stadium location.
