Nick’s Picks | Downtown, Spain, Jackson County, and More …

Next Steps on New Royals Ballpark

Who’s got the toughest assignment in Kansas City right now?

Try City Manager Mario Vasquez who’s been tasked this week with turning a new Royals stadium plan into something resembling an actual deal.

Despite all the smiles and celebrations last week, many of the details are fuzzy and some of the biggest questions remain unanswered.

Owner John Sherman calls the stadium renderings “conceptual,” which is another way of saying: don’t get too attached. Even the exact footprint of the proposed ballpark, on top of Hallmark’s corporate headquarters, still isn’t set in stone.

Apparently, Crown Center stays—but what about everything inside it?

The ice rink, Legoland, Sea Life Aquarium, Kaleidoscope, the Hallmark Visitor Center? A company spokesperson said that those questions remain unanswered for them as well, saying that “when they’re further along in the planning process, they’ll be able to better define the future of specific Crown Center attractions.”

Then there’s the money. How much will the state and Jackson County contribute? That’s still unclear.

And that much-touted “partnership” with Hallmark—what does that actually mean? Are they donating their longtime campus or selling it?  And to whom? The Royals or the city?

And will Hallmark take on a more starring role once the stadium opens? Will the company’s name end up out front?

Hallmark Field, anyone?

Last Week Reviewed

Lucas Trades Stadium Talk for Spanish Sun

With the Royals ballpark negotiations handed off to the city manager, Mayor Quinton Lucas is heading somewhere with fewer potholes and better paella.

The mayor is spending the week in Spain. He’s in Madrid for Bloomberg CityLab—where global mayors gather to workshop big-city problems.

On the itinerary: panels, receptions, and a dinner hosted by Michael Bloomberg at the Prado.

A sister-city stop in Seville and a quick detour to Morocco round out the itinerary before Lucas lands back at KCI on Sunday.

King Charles at The White House

Less than 48 hours after an apparent attempt on his life, President Donald Trump is back on the world stage—welcoming King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House.

The British monarch arrives in Washington today for a four-day visit, marking the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. A state dinner is scheduled, and on Tuesday, Charles will become the first British monarch in 35 years to address a joint session of Congress.

The visit continues Wednesday in New York City, where the king is expected to lay a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

Kansas City’s closest brush with British royalty may come during the FIFA World Cup. Now that England has picked Kansas City as its tournament base camp, it could get a rare moment in the royal spotlight.

Prince William – in his role as president of England’s Football Association – has a history of visiting the team during major tournaments. Prince Harry says he also plans to be closely involved.

Jackson County Executive Race Reopens

What just happened to the race for Jackson County executive?

In a stunning 48-hour shakeup, two frontrunners have dropped out, forcing the county to reopen candidate filings.

Former County Chair DaRon McGee ended his campaign, claiming he wants to focus on family. Interim Executive Phil LeVota is also out—three weeks after joining the race—citing a desire to “enjoy life” away from the “unpleasantness” of politics.

The sudden double exit raises a new question: pure coincidence—or a strategic clearing of the field for a candidate waiting in the wings?

If there is a big name waiting to jump in, they have until Friday to announce. There’s now less than 100 days before the primary election.

WNBA in Town

For the first time in more than two decades, Kansas City is hosting a WNBA game tonight.

It’s also the first WNBA game to be played at T-Mobile Center.

The league’s last visit came in 2005, when Detroit faced Minnesota at Municipal Auditorium.

In this preseason matchup, the Minnesota Lynx face off against the Nigerian Women’s National Team.

Despite missing out on the latest WNBA expansion round, Kansas City leaders are continuing to campaign for a permanent franchise.

Other Dates to Circle

New Month Alert: It’s time to flip the calendar. May begins on Wednesday. If April showers bring May flowers, should the metro be primed for a bumper crop of blooms this year?

Get Artsy: The Brookside Art Fair turns 40 this weekend, bringing nearly 200 artists to the streets just south of the Brookside Shops. The free outdoor event runs Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.

Derby Day: Big hats, mint juleps, and the “fastest two minutes in sports”  — the 152nd Kentucky Derby runs Saturday at Churchill Downs. Usually, Kansas City’s biggest watch party takes over the Kansas City Museum—but this year, the party is on pause.

Nick Haines tracks the metro’s most impactful, confusing and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS.