Royals Owner John Sherman Discovers He Doesn’t Like It
Yes, a deadline. A real one. With dates. And consequences.
After the Kansas City Royals officially walked away from the Aspiria Campus site in Overland Park — yet another square on the ever-shrinking Stadium Bingo Card — the Clay County Commission announced that voters will not see any stadium-related tax measure on the April ballot. Translation: no blank checks, no rush jobs, and no “trust us, it’ll all work out” sales pitch.
Somewhere, John Sherman sighed deeply and reminded everyone that patience is a virtue — especially when you’re not the one paying.
Sherman, who has spent the better part of this saga behaving like time is an abstract concept that only applies to other people, seems genuinely surprised that Clay County isn’t interested in being strung along while he angles for the most generous taxpayer-funded deal possible. The assumption appears to be that counties should simply remain on standby, indefinitely, like a customer service rep on hold — except the hold music costs millions in public dollars.
Clay County, however, has politely declined to play that role. And frankly, good for them.
Local voters don’t need extra taxes. They don’t need creative financing. They don’t need a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” that somehow shows up every generation asking for more money. What they need is a county commission willing to say, “If you want something, make a decision — or move on.” Which is exactly what’s happening.
This Lil Happy Rock has consistently done its civic duty by calling out any commissioner who dared flirt with a Royals stadium deal before the facts , or the price tag. The message from voters has been refreshingly simple: we are not desperate, and we are not paying for someone else’s passion project.
Meanwhile, options for the Royals keep quietly evaporating. Overland Park? Gone. April ballot? Gone. Unlimited patience from suburban taxpayers? Also gone.
At this point, the most logical remaining leverage for Sherman might be geographic. And honestly, Salt Lake City is sitting right there — arms open, vibes immaculate, ready to Manifest Destiny the heck out of a shiny new stadium. The city’s whole brand is ambition, expansion, and politely insisting it was always meant to be. A Royals relocation would fit in perfectly — like a billion-dollar glove. And if that’s the move, great. Truly. At least it would be honest.
Back here in Clay County, officials are signaling that negotiations don’t mean surrender, and economic development doesn’t mean financial self-harm. The commission’s decision not to rush a tax vote is less “anti-Royals” and more “pro-reality.”
As Fox 4 reported, Clay County has made it clear: there will be no April vote on a stadium tax. And as Tony’s Kansas City aptly noted, this is what hardball negotiations actually look like — not endless press conferences, not speculative renderings, and not treating voters like an ATM with trust issues.
The clock is ticking. Not because Clay County is being unreasonable, but because life goes on, budgets exist, and taxpayers have limits.
John Sherman may feel like he has all the time in the world. Clay County does not. And for once, the people holding the purse strings are acting like it.
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