Fellow Landmark columnist Guy Speckman of page 3 predicts when all the political smoke finally clears around the topic, whenever that might be, the Royals will end up with a stadium along the riverfront in Clay County (North Kansas City) and the Chiefs will end up in Wyandotte County (in the general area of Legends Outlets).
I’m hoping Speck’s prediction is spot on because I wouldn’t hate either one of those landing spots. A new Royals ballpark would be a great ‘get’ for North Kansas City. And a Chiefs stadium at Legends would be about an 18-minute drive from my home. Give me some of that.
The change in proximity might actually increase my chances of going to a Chiefs game. In recent years I’ve been to a Chiefs away game at Nashville but haven’t been to a Chiefs home game at Arrowhead since the 2013 season. For perspective, that was Andy Reid’s first year as coach. So, not recently.
The attraction of trips to Arrowhead has faded for me with age for a multitude of reasons, with the cluster of getting out of the parking lot after the game ends probably number one and a heavy per capita presence of over-served patrons a close second.
But a brand new stadium that close to my home? It would draw me to a game. At least once. And a new Royals stadium along the riverfront in NKC? Sounds cool and intriguing, if Clay County wants to pay for it.
You can read more about the Missouri legislature’s stadium talk in a story on page A-4.
Have you seen the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau? Some interesting numbers.
A couple of cities in Platte County have seen major increases in the new numbers, which are estimates of the population on July 1, 2024. Compared to the 2020 census, the cities of Parkville and Riverside had large gains in numbers.
At Parkville, the population estimated for 2024 is 8,980, which is up by nearly 25 percent from the 2020 number of 7,191. A big factor in Parkville’s population growth no doubt is the Creekside development at Hwy. 45 and I-435.
At Riverside, 2024 estimated population is 4,498, up more than 12 percent from 2020.
For Platte City, the Census Bureau’s 2024 estimate is 4,867, up by 1.82 percent from the 4,780 number in the 2020 census. Platte City, of course, has relatively little room left for the population to grow except for the area east of I-29. The Windmill Creek subdivision east of I-29 is adding on, which will grow population numbers, and another major subdivision is planned on that side of the interstate but won’t likely develop out until Hwy. 92 is expanded to four lanes from I-29 to Bethel Road.
Raise your hand if you think you can outrun Salvador Perez.
Half of you just raised your hand, didn’t you? The sad part is you’re not wrong. Father Time is catching up with Salvy. In fact he’s lapping Salvy as we speak.
Considering going out to a Royals game sometime soon, maybe this weekend, we’ll see. But man, their anemic offense is hard to watch in its current condition, and that gives me pause every time I’m about to click on the “buy tickets now” prompt on their website.
I’m sure I’ll get out there soon. And probably spend 2.5 hours being frustrated, but that’s part of the . . fun, right? Right?
We’ve researched a truckload of the free local concerts at area venues and are dropping as many schedules as possible in The Landmark for you live music buffs. The Linden Square lineup is on the front page this week. We’ve also gathered the lineup for Zona Rosa’s summer concert series, the lineup for the once-a-month live music events in front of the Platte County Courthouse, and the list of musical acts heading to Creekside in Parkville.
Consider clipping out the schedules and saving for quick reference whenever you’re looking for a low-cost entertainment option over the next couple months.
One of my goals for this summer is to turn my buddy/fellow columnist Guy Speckman into a music fan. No luck so far. Speck’s idea of fun with music is to text me unflattering pictures of the old boys from Air Supply. Listening to them is fine, modern day high definition photos not so fine.
Anyway, when I try to talk music and bands and whatnot around Speck he just kind of politely stares into space like Joe Biden.
The opposite is true of Fred Felix, our distribution specialist. Sometimes our taste in bands doesn’t match, but to each his own. You’ll often find Fred cutting a rug or slicing a sidewalk at these outdoor concerts. This year I’m daring him to do a double stanky leg with a Modified Cotton-Eyed Joe.
Announce crazy tariffs. Pause crazy tariffs. Announce crazy tariffs. Pause crazy tariffs. Announce crazy tariffs. Pause crazy tariffs.
Maybe I’m the crazy one, but there seems to be a pattern here.
Stock market manipulation is alive in ’25.
(Find Foley comparing his 90-ft. dash time to that of Salvador Perez. Email ivan@plattecountylandmark.com)
