Kansas City Monarchs
Quint Studer Returns to Kansas City Roots
The Pensacola entrepreneur who helped revitalize Pensacola now holds the keys to one of baseball’s most storied names—and says his family’s Kansas City roots brought him here.
Quint Studer stood at a podium inside Legends Field on Monday morning and did something that caught a room full of local officials, season ticket holders, and media off guard: he got emotional.
- “My great-grandfather Quentin Preacher Smith was raised on Wards 13 and 15 of Kansas City, Missouri. He was a bricklayer,” Studer told the crowd gathered for the formal introduction of KC Roots, his ownership group, as the new stewards of the Kansas City Monarchs. “Isn’t that what we all are? Bricklayers. Trying to build something sturdy that comes together and exists.”
The press conference at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, officially closed the chapter on longtime owner Mark Brandmeyer’s tenure and opened a new one under Studer—best known in northwest Florida for transforming downtown Pensacola, co-founding the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Double-A baseball franchise, and building a civic philanthropy legacy that includes Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
Studer said the Monarchs’ acquisition was anything but a straightforward business transaction. After deciding to expand his baseball portfolio beyond the Blue Wahoos and the Single-A Beloit Sky Carp in Wisconsin, his team contacted roughly 120 organizations to gauge interest.
“The Kansas City Monarchs were not one of them. I don’t even think Mark knew he was going to sell.”
It was American Association Commissioner Josh Schaub who pointed Studer toward Kansas City. Once Studer looked into it, the personal connection hit hard. His great-grandfather on one side had walked Kansas City’s streets as a bricklayer. His great-grandfather, on the other side, was born in Elwood, Kansas. His grandfather, L.L. Studer, served as mayor of Swanee, Kansas and worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad before the family relocated to Sedalia, Missouri, where Studer’s father was raised.
- “I’ve always had this feeling when I would come here to work with healthcare providers—I would try to figure out where my family walked, where they spent time, and just be there,” Studer said. “Our LLC is called KC Roots. That’s not an accident.”
Gratitude for Brandmeyer’s Foundation
Multiple speakers made a point of honoring outgoing owner Mark Brandmeyer before pivoting to the future. Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnson, whose unified government owns Legends Field, noted that Brandmeyer invested more than $1 million in artificial turf, which transformed the field’s reputation among players.
“He steered investments and improvements when you look at the field and see artificial turf—players now want to play here,” Johnson said. “He gets to a point where it might be a good time to change, and he found the right person who has the same commitment to bring good baseball to our community and keep it thriving.”
Commissioner Schaub, appearing by video, called Brandmeyer’s stewardship essential to stabilizing the franchise. “Your commitment, passion, and investment helped stabilize and strengthen this club,” Shaw said, “and the impact on the Monarchs will not be forgotten for a very, very long time.”
What KC Roots Is Bringing
Key commitments announced at Monday’s press conference:
- $1 million capital commitment for stadium improvements in year one
- Doubled game-day staff salaries across the board since taking over
- New food and beverage partnership with RS3—Nolan Ryan’s three sons—bringing executive chefs and a restaurant-quality food program to Legends Field
- 200+ non-baseball events annually at the stadium, mirroring the Pensacola Blue Wahoos model
- An internal ticket resale platform so season ticket holders can sell unused tickets and recoup their investment
- Fundraising support toward a new Negro Baseball Museum
- Expanded youth and children’s programming, including learning environments tied to the stadium’s existing playground
- Partnership with the Casey Diamonds women’s professional softball organization
Community Over Championships
Studer spent the bulk of his remarks framing the Monarchs’ acquisition not as a sports investment but as a civic one—the same lens through which he approached Pensacola two decades ago.
He recounted the Gallup research that shaped his thinking: great communities keep young people, support local businesses in building skills, and nurture entrepreneurs. That framework led to the creation of the Studer Community Institute in Pensacola. He said he intends to build something parallel in Kansas City.
“Being good on the field is nice, but our focus is off the field. Our focus is in the community, because that’s really where we win and lose every day.”
Studer noted that 80% to 85% of brain development occurs by age three, which is the rationale behind Studer Family Children’s Hospital and the early childhood programs he and his wife Rishy fund. He brought copies of his book—Building a Vibrant Community—to distribute free at the event, noting that every dollar from book sales goes to early brain development programs.
Monarchs President Jay Hinrichs told the crowd he spent 90 minutes walking downtown Pensacola with Studer about 60 days ago before the deal closed.
- “I learned about community. I learned about people. I learned about partnerships,” Hinrichs said. “It was probably the most wonderful 90 minutes of my professional career.”