In a significant development that could potentially shift the sports landscape of Kansas City, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed a crucial piece of legislation on Friday, aiming to attract two major sports franchises – the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals – from their current home across the state line in Missouri. This legislative maneuver by Governor Kelly opens a pathway for these teams to fund new stadiums in Kansas, should they opt to relocate.
The Chiefs have consistently expressed their commitment to stay at Arrowhead Stadium, having extended their lease at the Missouri-based facility with plans for extensive renovations aimed at keeping the team in the state for decades to come. Nevertheless, these renovation efforts face obstacles, and with the recent legislative changes in Kansas, the state has positioned itself as a viable alternative for the Chiefs.
The new legislation, passing through the Kansas House earlier in the week, modifies the qualifications for STAR (sales tax and revenue) bonds, an instrument allowing for the issuance of bonds by Kansas to fund significant commercial, entertainment, and tourism projects. This change, now awaiting approval from the Kansas Senate, is a direct appeal to professional sports teams, stipulating that any development must include a stadium or complex with seating for over 30,000 people and represent an investment of at least $1 billion — a criterion tailored to attract both the Chiefs and the Royals.
Despite their intentions to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs and Royals faced a setback when Jackson County, Missouri voters rejected a sales tax proposal in April, a measure that would have supported the proposed renovations and the development of a new downtown ballpark for the Royals. This rejection has prompted the Chiefs to explore other options actively, with the absence of a requirement for a stadium sales tax vote in Kansas presenting a particularly enticing alternative.
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt expressed the urgent need to evaluate all available opportunities, acknowledging the special place Arrowhead Stadium holds for the team and its fans while also recognizing the potential necessity of a new stadium to ensure the franchise’s future success. The continuing developments in Kansas legislation offer a possibility for such a future, hinting at a new stadium that may not necessarily be open-air.
As the landscape evolves, the Chiefs are exploring all possibilities, not ruling out the chance to remain at their iconic Arrowhead Stadium but also preparing for the prospect of laying down roots in a new, state-of-the-art facility. This complex legislative and developmental play underscores a significant moment in Kansas City’s storied sports history, with the potential relocation of its beloved football and baseball franchises hanging in the balance.
