Royals and Elevate bring new downtown ballpark experience to life

KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals announced today a multi-year partnership with global sports and entertainment agency Elevate to help shape the fan experience at the Royals new downtown ballpark in the heart of Kansas City.

The approximately 34,000-seat ballpark will anchor a $3 billion, 85-acre mixed-use development in partnership with Hallmark Cards that will bring transformative economic activity and millions of new visitors to the Crown Center site.

Elevate will work alongside the Royals to turn a generational opportunity into unforgettable experiences for fans, families, local businesses and brand partners.

As the Royals exclusive third-party advisor and sales agent for the new ballpark’s premium seating and corporate partnerships, Elevate will leverage its integrated model and bring together its strategy, research, partnerships, hospitality sales, creative and executive search practices. The agreement builds on a preexisting relationship that began in July 2022.

“Our fans deserve a world-class and family-friendly experience and we’re excited that Elevate will help bring that vision to life in our new downtown ballpark,” Royals President of Real Estate and Development Brooks Sherman said. “This project will transform our city’s downtown, benefit small businesses, enhance Kansas City’s profile and be a point of great pride for our fans. We want the best beside us, and that’s what we have with Elevate.”

Chris Allphin, Chief Business Officer & President of Elevate Creative, continued: “Ballparks are special. Having worked across some of the most iconic sports and entertainment venues in the world, we know they have to be so much more than a place to watch a game. They have to serve their fans, families, and the whole community. Nobody understands that better than John Sherman and his team at the Royals. This new ballpark will be a civic landmark that helps shape the future of downtown Kansas City for generations to come. We’re honored to partner with the team and help bring that vision to life, drawing on the full strength of Elevate’s experience to create a destination that reflects the pride and energy of Kansas City.”

Before construction, Elevate will advise on premium seating design, partnership assets and signage, ticket pricing and food and beverage plans. The goal is to connect the business planning with how people will use and enjoy the space.

On the partnerships side, Elevate will lead sales of naming rights, founding and cornerstone partnerships, and other club assets, from sales strategy and asset valuation to partner outreach, negotiations, and activation planning.

Elevate’s creative team will lead the design of a ballpark sales preview and experience center in the Kansas City area, giving prospective buyers a place to explore the vision for the new venue. The team’s scope includes site selection, budget planning, stakeholder interviews, brand messaging and design concepts, architectural drawings with a partner architect, audio-visual and technology integration and project management through build-out. Elevate’s premium sales team will run the center’s day-to-day operations.

Elevate’s executive search practice has recently completed the appointment of David Burke as Chief Revenue Officer for the Royals New Ballpark Sales. He will serve a dual role as Elevate’s Executive Vice President, Property Sales.

ABOUT ELEVATE: Elevate is an award-winning global sports and entertainment agency founded in 2018 and the chosen growth partner for the world’s leading brands, properties and experience driven businesses. Through one integrated model, Elevate serves as the trusted advisor for more than 1,000 clients, helping them solve complex challenges and drive business wins. What began in sports has evolved into a platform now serving clients across culture, attractions, culinary and hotels. Today, Elevate brings operational expertise, data-driven intelligence and world-class creativity together under one roof. Elevate partners with clients worldwide from offices across North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.oneelevate.com.