For nearly three years, the Clay County Commission has engaged in discussions with the ownership of the Kansas City Royals regarding the potential relocation of the team to Clay County. The commission appointed Commissioners Jay Johnson, Jon Carpenter and Scott Wagner to serve as the county’s lead negotiators throughout this process.Over the course of this process, the county’s negotiating team developed what it believes to be a strong and competitive proposal, one designed to support a successful Royals franchise in Clay County alongside a complementary dining and entertainment district, while also protecting the financial interests of Clay County taxpayers.The most recent phase of negotiations was structured to align with the Royals’ desired timeline, allowing a finalized proposal to be placed on the April ballot. Meeting that timeline would have required acceptance of the county’s proposal by Jan. 8, 2026, thereby allowing s...