More than three years after announcing the quest for a new home for the Royals, the team unveiled plans for a ballpark in downtown. They’ll create an 85-acre stadium district in Kansas City’s Crown Center and Washington Square Park.

In this special edition of SportsBeat KC, the weekly sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM), columnist Vahe Gregorian shares his thoughts on the Royals’ forthcoming new digs.

Kauffman Stadium, in its 54th season, has been a popular home for the Royals. Did principal owner John Sherman get it right with Crown Center?

And now both of the Truman Sports Complex tenants have announced new homes. With the Chiefs moving out of Arrowhead to a site in Wyandotte County, how much will we miss the franchises’ current status as next-door neighbors?

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

0:54 — The downtown ballpark dream has come true.

10:15 — Why parking situation is on all our minds

SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Monty Davis, Irvin Zhang, Suzanne Hogan, and Gabriella Lacey, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.

The NFL Draft is near.

The Chiefs hold nine selections over the draft’s three days, with two picks in the first round. It’s the team’s best draft position in years — thanks to a poor finish to last season.

A successful draft would help the Chiefs avoid this kind of draft position in the future.

“You don’t want to be here, but we’ve gotten past that phase, and we’re in it,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “There’s a good number of picks we’ve got here.”

On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM), Chiefs insider Pete Sweeney and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian offer their final pre-draft thoughts, starting with what the Chiefs should do with their first-round picks.

Edge rusher with their first selection? Wide receiver? Cornerback? A tackle for the offensive line? We agree on the positions of need, but not necessarily the players.

It will be a fascinating draft for the Chiefs as they begin the quest to reestablish the dominance they’ve experienced throughout much of the Reid era.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:20 — Why we love draft week

17:18 — Who the Chief’s may take in the first round?

29:12 — The local talent you should keep an eye on during the draft

31:42 - What else is on Blair’s radar?

SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Monty Davis, Irvin Zhang, Suzanne Hogan, and Gabriella Lacey, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.

Kansas City has detailed plans for a new Royals ballpark at Washington Square Park, offering to contribute $600 million to the stadium’s $1.9 billion price tag.

Is this the Royals’ future? Well, a few questions remain.

Star columnist Sam McDowell, who helped break the news of the stadium proposal, identified what obstacles may lie ahead on SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM).

Also, a talent drain is taking shape on the Kansas basketball program. Seven players have already entered the transfer portal, with just one announcing that he was staying. And no player from another program has announced he was joining the Jayhawks.

KU beat writer Shreyas Laddha discusses why for the second straight year, KU seems to be playing catch-up in the portal.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:15 — Is the downtown ballpark actually happening?

7:00 — What would the nearby stadium district look like?

11:55 — KU’s transfer portal madness

26:22 - What else is on Blair’s radar?

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won’t be suspended by the NFL, plus KC picked up a former first-round cornerback in Kaiir Elam. Those two positions will be a priority when the Chiefs are on the clock for the NFL Draft later this month. Will they have an impact on the Chiefs’ plans?

After the break, former professional soccer star Matt Besler talks the World Cup, and what Kansas City should expect when the games and base camps arrive in June.

Besler would know — He was a starting defender on the 2014 U.S. World Cup team that emerged from the group stage to the knockout round in Brazil.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

0:15 — Rashee Rice won’t be suspended. How does that affect Chiefs’ plans?

7:20 — Chiefs take flyer on former first-round cornerback

14:09 — The first Kansas Citian to play in the World Cup talks the base camp experience

19:02 — Is Kansas City ready for the World Cup?

24:26 — What else is on Blair’s radar?

Opening day at The K was a success for the Royals, who beat the Minnesota Twins in the first home game. But only a handful of home openers at Kauffman Stadium remain for the team that’s actively looking for a new stadium. So where will it be built — and why has it taken this long?

Royals principal owner John Sherman addressed those questions before Monday’s game. Star columnists San McDowell and Vahe Gregorian discussed the topic on SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM).

Then, between games and base camps, at least 10 national teams will spend time in Kansas City during the FIFA World Cup. None is smaller — or perhaps more excited — than the Caribbean island nation of Curacao.

By area and population, it’s the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup.

Gilbert Martina, president of the Curacao Football Federation, told us how his team is preparing for the global stage … and Kansas City.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:15 — John Sherman’s latest update on a new Royals stadium

11:04 — How Royals looked on Opening day at The K

17:31 — Curacao’s World Cup journey & what KC can expect

36:20 — What else is on Blair’s radar?

Kansas basketball’s NCAA Tournament run came to a heartbreaking end with a buzzer-beating loss to St. John’s in the second round. Now, the Jayhawks await word from Bill Self on his coaching future due to the heart issues he’s been battling since 2022.

On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM), columnist Sam McDowell discusses what’s in store for the Jayhawks this offseason and how the program might handle a coaching search.

Also, opening day for the Royals is Friday and beat writer Jaylon Thompson breaks down the roster, where the team has improved over last year, and how Royals players’ success in the World Baseball Classic — there were many — can carry into the upcoming season.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:20 — The struggles that led to KU’s early March Madness exit

9:57 — Is this the end of the Bill Self era?

20:08 — The Royals players who shined at World Baseball Classic

33:36 — What else is on Blair’s radar?

Kansas freshman sensation Darryn Peterson has had anything but a dull season. At times, he’s looked like the best player in college basketball. At others, he’s frustrated fans — and possibly his coach — by missing games for any number of ailments.

So what’s going on behind the scenes with Peterson? Has his NBA Draft stock fallen? And what’s the deal with the cramping that has persisted for almost the entirety of his freshman year?

The Star’s Shreyas Laddha dove into these topics — and more — in a feature on the KU basketball star. We discuss Peterson’s tumultuous season on SportsBeat KC, the podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:16 — Why did Peterson miss so much time this season?

6:45 — Peterson’s NBA future

8:48 — Is KU on upset watch vs. Cal Baptist?

The Chiefs have found their backup quarterback in a trade — Justin Fields — with the hope that he doesn’t have to play in games.

After all, that would mean Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury has lingered and he can’t open the season. As it is, Fields, acquired from the NY Jets, will play a critical role while Mahomes recovers.

Beat writer Pete Sweeney breaks down the trade, along with other standout roster moves in free agency over the previous week and how they’ll impact the team’s approach in the NFL Draft on the latest SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR.

Also, columnist Vahe Gregorian shares his thoughts on the draws for Kansas and Missouri for the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers appeared to get a kiss from the selection committee, the Jayhawks a slap.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:02 — What Justin Fields brings to the Chiefs

8:50 — A breakdown of Chiefs’ free agency pickups

16:03 — How Mizzou got a lucky draw. KU, not so much

33:22 — What else is on Blair’s Radar?