Mortenson-McCownGordon JV Lands $1.9B Kansas City Royals Ballpark
The Kansas City Royals have selected a Mortenson and McCownGordon Construction joint venture as construction manager at risk for the team’s new $1.9 billion downtown ballpark, Construction Dive reports.
Market Impact
Minneapolis-based Mortenson and Kansas City-based McCownGordon will deliver the 1.25-million-square-foot, open-air venue, which will seat roughly 34,000 fans across multiple premium levels. The stadium sits inside a larger $3 billion mixed-use district spanning 85 acres, with JE Dunn handling construction on the surrounding neighborhood development, according to MLB.com. The project team is targeting a May 2027 groundbreaking, per a local NBC affiliate, with completion set for opening day 2030.
Mortenson brings a deep bench of ballpark experience to the job, including the Atlanta Braves’ $672 million Truist Park, $202.5 million in renovations at the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field, and the $1.5 billion future home of the Las Vegas Athletics, built in a JV with McCarthy Building Cos. The firm also landed the Washington Commanders’ $3.8 billion stadium job in August alongside Clark Construction and Smoot Construction Company. McCownGordon CEO Ramin Cherafat called the Kansas City project personal for the employee-owned firm: “As a Kansas City-founded company, this opportunity is especially meaningful to us. Beyond creating an exceptional destination, we are honored to help build something that reflects the spirit and pride of the people who call this region home.”
The JV will also work with Parson + Associates, a Kansas City community engagement firm, to recruit local trade partners and workers for the project.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Concrete, steel and MEP packages have not been bid yet but will open ahead of the targeted May 2027 groundbreaking. Trades should get on the JV’s bidder list now through McCownGordon or Mortenson’s regional offices.
- Parson + Associates is actively recruiting local trade partners and workers for the project. Kansas City-area subcontractors should reach out directly to position for early subcontracting opportunities.
- The ballpark is part of an 85-acre, $3 billion mixed-use district, meaning civil, site work and utility subcontractors may find additional packages tied to JE Dunn’s surrounding neighborhood development, separate from the stadium build itself.
- Firms with major-league stadium experience should note Mortenson’s parallel active builds, including the Las Vegas Athletics stadium and Washington Commanders stadium, both competing for similar specialty trade capacity nationally. Subcontractors bidding multiple Mortenson jobs should lock in pricing and crew availability early given the overlapping schedules.
- With a 2030 opening day deadline, expect an aggressive multi-year construction schedule once groundbreaking begins in 2027, prioritizing subs who can commit to firm sequencing and staffing through a compressed three-year build window.
