KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Supporters of a downtown baseball stadium, and those in favor of fixing up Kauffman Stadium will meet next week.

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported that earlier this week, in colorful language, Jackson County Sports Authority Chairman Mike Smith called for a hard look at the downtown stadium plan, and now, he'll get it.

"The summit has been formed," Smith said.

Smith said that downtown stadium boosters have agreed to make their pitch. Smith said that it will be a fair hearing, but in front of an audience full of skeptics, who want to see Kauffman Stadium renovated, not replaced.

"Is this walking into a park? No. If you want something, you have to be able to present it. He'll have a difficult time. I won't argue that," Smith said.

Downtown stadium leader Jon Copaken said he will take Smith at his word.

But neither City Manager Wayne Cauthen, who is a big downtown stadium backer, nor Mayor Kay Barnes will be there. But Barnes said not to read anything into that; she supports repairing the Truman Sports Complex.

"I've made my position very clear. I fully support the county initiative," Barnes said.

A new downtown stadium group also emerged Thursday, called Homerun KC, which is a political fundraising committee, Mahoney said.

"We want to be part of finding the right solution for Kansas City," said Russ Johnson, of Homerun KC.

The new group has yet to take a formal position on the controversy, but adds that it is not unreasonable to assume they would oppose anything they consider anti-downtown.

"What they're telling me is that they're for their own self-interests here. They're not for what's best for the community," Smith said.

"I don't own of these buildings down here. I just think it's the right thing to do. We have person after person come up and tell us it's the right thing to do," Johnson said.

Johnson also said his new group has not been invited to next week's stadium summit.