Now that the Kansas City Royals have made it known the future home of the team will be in the heart of Kansas City, in the Crossroads neighborhood on the site of the Kansas City Star's Printing Press building. It's time to get serious about the new ballpark.

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The question John Sherman, Jackson County Executive Frank White, Kansas City area politicians, and the Royals stadium design team better start asking is: Is this ballpark better than Kauffman Stadium? Or more pointedly, will the average Kansas City baseball fan think this ballpark is better than The K?

That's the entire ballgame right there. If it's not, and most fans are meh about the experience, then forget about a shiny new stadium, the downtown location, Sherman's ballpark district, or anything along those lines making a difference. It may not be a difference-maker anyway, considering Royals fans tend to not go to games when the ballclub is bad.

Yet, think about it. What if Bobby Whitt is a bust? What if the Kansas City Royals continue to be a mediocre to bad ballclub for years and decades to come? Then on top of it, you build a ballpark that fails to meet expectations? I'll tell you what happens. You have a team no one cares about playing in a ballpark no one cares about, that many have a built-in excuse to avoid.

Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
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So what do you think about this rendering?

This may be the best of the bunch. I like that they kept the fountains, any new ballpark the Royals build needs fountains. It's synonymous with the franchise, but it's also what Kansas City is known for. I don't like losing the scoreboard in the shape of the team's logo with the crown at the top. That's another "must have" if you ask me.

The cityscape behind the stadium's outfield is OK, it'll look nice on television, although, honestly I don't think there's anything wrong with how Kauffman Stadium looks on TV. Not to mention, at this point, every televised game from every city uses a b-roll that highlights the city's landmarks regardless of how close or far they are from the stadium.

What about these renderings?

Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
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Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
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Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
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I'll admit they're not bad. The walkway between T-Mobile Center and the ballpark will look great in ariel shots and could look interesting, perhaps, from the ground.

I like the outfield bleacher seats too, those very well could be a fun unique feature of the new ballpark. Yet could the bleachers in left be a little too much of a good thing? They'll look awful if they're only a third full. It also seems there are an awful lot of seats that aren't under some type of roof to protect fans from the elements. Like rain, for one thing. Sun, for another. That's no good if you're a fan.

The two shots of the roof give the stadium somewhat of a 21st-century Wrigley Field vibe, yet it's not Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. Neither is it Camden Yards, the unique stadium that kicked off the retro stadium boom 30 years ago.

This leads me to a question, what are these renderings supposed to evoke? If they're supposed to get me excited about a new ballpark, which they should. They don't. I see potential here. But, the White Sox saw potential when they were promised a ballpark that evoked characteristics of our beautiful Kauffman Stadium.

Sox fans didn't get that. They got a stadium that looked vaguely like Kauffman Stadium without the cham whose view beyond the center field wall was a housing project a block away. Did I mention that the team, along with the Illinois Sports Authority has spent the past 30 years trying to make it a more palatable experience for Chicago baseball fans?

The Royals, Chiefs, and Jackson County got it right 50 years ago when they built the Truman Sports Complex. Now the Royals and Jackson County have to get it right for the next 50 years. These renderings show some promise, but I don't think they have it nailed yet. At least not for this fan.

I'm from Missouri so you need to show me. So far John Sherman hasn't shown me he wants to field a winning team or build a ballpark better than The K. Both are problems if you're a Royals fan.

This Abandoned Missouri Hospital Will Creep You Out [Pic]

In 2014 St. Mary's Healthcare moved its hospital from its 100-year-old campus to a brand-new facility along Missouri 179. In February 2015, after its closing, Backyard Exploration filmed a visit to the abandoned facility. What was left behind was a little bit creepy looking.

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter an abandoned property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Gallery Credit: Rob Creighton

Take A Look At This Scary Abandoned Kansas City Warehouse

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

The Weld Wheel Building, or the Ridenour-Baker Grocery Company Building, is the second building on the site, in the West Bottoms neighborhood of Kansas City. For many years it was the home of the Ridenour-Baker Grocery Company. It was the first wholesale grocery building west of the Mississippi River located on the railroad. Later, it was the home of Weld Wheels, which called the building home from 1978 until 2003. The warehouse is currently slated for demolition and New York-based developer SomeraRoad, which is redeveloping 20 acres in the area, plans to build a five-story apartment building on the site.

Urban Explorer Lee Paco Industries explored the building twice to get to the roof. You can check out his Youtube videos here and here. If you like his work, he has some postcards and books for sale on his Etsy Channel.

Gallery Credit: Rob Creighton