Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced plans to convene a special session of the Legislature to discuss potential incentives for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, both of which are considering relocating to Kansas. This action directly addresses the critical need for replacement and/or improved state-of-the-art stadium facilities. Most importantly, it zeroes in on helping the teams currently calling Missouri home.
Meanwhile, new venues have been desired by the Chiefs and Royals, which led Kehoe to urge House legislators to provide their backing for new funding mechanisms. Perhaps most significantly, the teams’ existing stadium leases last through 2031, leaving legislators with a shrinking window of time to intervene. Kehoe’s proposal includes funding infrastructure entirely with new state bonds that Kansas law currently allows. The bill sponsors expect these bonds to cover 70% of new stadium construction costs. The actual bonds will be repaid over 30 years. The money would be partly drawn from new revenue expected from sports betting, Kansas Lottery ticket sales, and higher sales and alcohol taxes.
Just last week, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, took a forceful stand. This time they turned down a regional sales tax extension that would have financed a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals and an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. This dramatic result has only fueled the fire of debate over the future of both franchises within the state of Missouri.
Kehoe is convinced that a strong incentive package will be needed to retain the teams in the state. He stated, “This is a huge economic development package,” emphasizing his commitment to revitalizing sports infrastructure in Kansas City. He further remarked, “I’d like to see us make sure we can solidify our offer with legislative approval,” highlighting the urgency of legislative action.
So while Kehoe’s optimism is certainly justified, skepticism continues among some state lawmakers from both parties in Kansas and Missouri about the effectiveness of state incentives. This time, they’re challenging whether it makes sense for public funds to support private sports franchises. They raise questions about how the proposed funding deals will hold up over time.
As Congress continues to debate these issues, the inner workings of Kehoe’s initiative illustrate a larger worry about keeping professional sports teams in Missouri. The economic impact is felt beyond the franchises themselves, with tremendous local business support and impact on civic pride and community engagement.
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