Local workers celebrate Royals’ commitment to negotiating community benefits agreement

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Citing successful community benefit agreement examples both locally and nationally, the Kansas City Royals backed up their Friday goals for a downtown ballpark with a Monday commitment to negotiating a CBA with local leaders.

“The Kansas City Royals’ commitment to a strong CBS is and always has been unwavering,” the Royals said in a release Monday afternoon. “The history of both the Royals and our ownership group are focused on positive community impacts with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.”

The Royals pointed to the negotiated CBA at Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal, as well as recent agreements for new ballparks and arenas for the Milwaukee Bucks, Tampa Bay Rays and Buffalo Bills as examples of successful deals they aim to emulate in the process of building a downtown ballpark.

READ MORE: Royals, Chiefs pledge downtown ballpark, Arrowhead renovation in exchange for sales tax extension

“With our commitment to Jackson County made clear last week, we will engage with community leaders and organizations to solidify a transformative CBA that will strengthen our hometown,” the statement continued.

During a Thursday, Jan. 4, town hall organized by Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca and the Stadium Improvements Committee, community leaders expressed the need for a CBA to create support for a downtown ballpark for the Royals.

A day later, the Royals and Chiefs pledged their commitment to staying in Jackson County if they receive support for a 40-year extension of the 3/8-cent sales tax. That sales tax extension -- the teams said -- would go toward a downtown ballpark for the Royals and renovations that would keep the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Monday, those community leaders with Stand Up KC praised the Royals’ commitment to striking a CBA deal.

“Hundreds of us have shown up over the last month to demand a secure seat at the table to negotiate a strong Community Benefits Agreement before any proposal to publicly pay for a new Royals stadium advances,” said Bill Thompson, one of the leaders of Stand Up KC. “Our persistence is paying off. Today the Royals acknowledged that they will include our coalition in CBA negotiations, and we are celebrating this victory.

“For a year we’ve been demanding a seat at the table to ensure a CBA that guarantees good union jobs and truly affordable housing,” Thompson said. “We are finally being heard, and we look forward to working with the Royals and holding them accountable to following through on their stated commitment.”

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