Kansas Lawmakers Approve Stadium Plan for Chiefs and Royals in Possible Move from Missouri
Kansas has its sights set on the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
According to the Associated Press, Kansas lawmakers have introduced a proposal to finance new stadiums for the NFL and MLB teams.
The plan would “authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery, and additional tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.”
“I’ve wanted to see the Chiefs in Kansas my whole life, but I hope we can achieve it in a way that benefits these communities rather than adding extra burdens,” Democrat Rep. Jason Probst told reporters.
The teams have a stadium complex lease through January 2031, but in April, Missouri voters rejected a proposed sales tax extension intended for stadium maintenance. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are urging both organizations to develop plans for either new stadiums or renovations before the current leases expire.
Missouri lawmakers are reportedly determined to retain both franchises amid a looming threat from their cross-state rival, Kansas.
“They’re sources of great pride,” Missouri state Rep. John Patterson, a Republican, told reporters about the two franchises.
While sports franchises often highlight the economic benefits of adding stadium complexes to a community, most economists and studies have found that subsidizing stadiums is a poor investment for cities and their residents.
However, this won’t deter Kansas lawmakers from attempting to attract the Chiefs and Royals, citing the supposed benefits of such a plan.
“You’ve got this asset and all the businesses that move there as a result or are created there,” Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican, told reporters. “You’ll get commerce out of that area every day.”
