New Royals Stadium Will Be Near Historic Church
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic church in Kansas City is getting a new neighbor. The Kansas City Royals announced this week that their new stadium will be nearby in the Crown Cener area.
“The diocese and parish have not been involved in the planning prior to today’s announcement,” Bishop James Johnston told the “Kansas City Star. “We were made aware of the announcement earlier this week and learned most of the details along with the rest of the community”
The century-old church and the adjacent parish hall sit on almost an acre of land owned by the diocese at the corner of Gillham Road and E. 26th Street. The structures currently are surrounded on three sides by Hallmark headquarters parking lots and offices. The diocese plans to discuss security and parking with the Royals as plans develop.
“We view this as primarily an enhancement that could attract new people to worship and experience the beauty of our Catholic faith,” the church said in a statement. “We have been assured that care will be taken to maintain the character of the neighborhood, including the iconic features of Our Lady of Sorrows’ building and its historic presence in the heart of downtown Kansas City.”
Some of the church’s masses may coincide with games. In 2025, the Royals played 14 weekend series at home, with the Saturday games starting just after 3 or 6 p.m. and Sunday first pitches scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
The church originally was built in the late 1800s on the site of Union Station and moved brick-by-brick to its current site, according to the parish website. The current church structure opened in 1923, with a 146-foot tall tower and red tile roof. It is located in the Crown Center Historic District. Above the altar is a crown sculpture surrounded by angels, which a former pastor called, “the first crown at Crown Center.” If things go according to plan, it will be joined by the Royals’ crown logo in 2030.
–Alan Goforth
