The Missouri House has followed suit, passing a new legislative framework. This policy push is intended to ensure that the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals stay in the Show Me state. This effort comes as a result of increased competition from next-door Kansas. Just this summer, Kansas passed new laws to offer eye-popping financial incentives for professional sports franchises. Under the proposed legislation, the state would be permitted to issue bonds to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of new stadium projects. Moreover, it would authorize tax credits of as much as $50 million.
Both franchises have stadium leases extended through 2031. More uncertainty is brewing because Royals owner John Sherman has publicly declared that the team would no longer be playing at Kauffman Stadium after the end of the 2030 season. This declaration adds urgency to Missouri’s efforts. With the clock ticking, state lawmakers are under pressure to finalize a strategy that can compete with Kansas’s aggressive negotiations for both teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are important to Missouri’s economy. They produce thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue annually. We’re quite familiar with the arguments for why losing either team would have a profound economic impact—even devastation—on the region. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has been successful in mobilizing support among his Republican colleagues. He’s optimistic that the proposed incentives will help turn back this possible loss.
The proposed legislation has sparked no small amount of controversy. Once it was introduced in the Senate, it was met with swift opposition. Not everyone was on board with the proposal, which was mocked by Republican state Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman as “special interests for billionaires.” State Representative Del Taylor, a Democrat from St. Louis, blasted the accusations of fearmongering. In speaking about the terribly tenuous situation where those teams might leave, he defended it strongly.
Rep. Taylor criticized the type of pressure lawmakers experience in these negotiations. I just don’t like making decisions when somebody’s got my rear end up against the wall,” she said.
Amid these debates, a provision in the legislation aims to hold team owners accountable should they choose to relocate before fulfilling their financial commitments to the state. This new clause is intended to protect Missouri’s investment in the two teams. It protects taxpayers from having to pay for the consequences of these choices.
Kansas’s recent changes have made it a tough third competitor for the Chiefs and Royals. In response, the state has passed legislation making it easier for bonds to cover as much as 70% of a new stadium’s construction costs. This step further raises the stakes for these high-profile franchises.
Gabby Picard, a representative involved in the discussions, emphasized that the decision regarding team location ultimately rests with the franchises themselves. “Choosing a location is a business decision that must be made by the teams, and any proposed tools put forward by the state will work in whatever Missouri location they select,” she remarked.
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