Lucas thanks Royals’ John Sherman for ‘good conversation’ about future of club in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As the fallout continues from Tuesday’s failed vote on an extension to Jackson County’s 3/8th-cent sales tax, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he’s re-engaged Royals owner John Sherman on conversations to keep the team in the city.

Lucas tweeted Friday morning that he and Sherman met Thursday to discuss the future of the Kansas City Royals.

“I thank John Sherman of the Royals for a good conversation yesterday afternoon concerning continuing work with Kansas City about the future,” Lucas said. “We are committed to maintaining the presence of both teams in our community.”

READ MORE: Wife of Royals owner John Sherman reacts to election, says ‘no more Jackson County for sure’

On the Saturday before Tuesday’s vote, Lucas endorsed a YES vote on Question 1. After it failed Tuesday night, he said the people of Kansas City and Jackson County “rejected plans and processes they found inadequate.”

Lucas’ Friday comments came two days after Sherman’s wife Marny said in a Facebook post she didn’t think either the Royals or Kansas City Chiefs would remain in Jackson County.

“Unfortunately neither team will work with Jackson County again,” Marny wrote in a Facebook comment on a public post after Tuesday’s special election saw the Vote Yes on 1 campaign fail by 16 percent. “The lack of leadership has lost the city two treasured assets... We will be lucky if both teams wind up in Kansas.”

Lucas shared a message on Twitter Thursday expressing optimism on Jackson County’s ability to keep both franchises.

“I hear rumors, including even from the Mayor of Dallas,” Lucas said Thursday. “Don’t believe the noise. We are committed to retention of our teams with vastly lower expenses -- think needed infrastructure build-out -- than even an intra-metro move. Both teams will be in KCMO in 2040 and long after.”