After Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday approved a funding plan aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in the state, attention now turns to Jackson County and Kansas City, where the teams currently reside.
Jackson County residents in April 2024 soundly rejected a stadiums sales tax that would have kept the teams in the area. More than a year later, the Kansas City metro is once again entering a crucial period that could decide whether one or both teams stay in the county and city.
The Chiefs and Royals face a June 30 deadline on whether to accept an offer from Kansas that includes using a supercharged bonding program to pay, in theory, up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums.
The Missouri House voted Wednesday to approve a funding package that could pay for up to half the cost of new or upgraded stadiums, putting Missouri’s counter-offer on the table. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is expected to sign the legislation within days.
The spotlight now swings back to local officials as the deadline approaches – and ahead of the end of the teams’ leases at the Truman Sports Complex in 2031. While still years away, any new stadium that either team wants to build would require extensive planning and construction. Both teams will face increasing pressure to make final decisions in the coming months simply because of the clock.
The Missouri offer requires “sufficient public investment” by local governments to support infrastructure and other needs of a stadium project. A top Missouri economic development official indicated during a legislative hearing on Tuesday that it would likely mean a sales tax.
“I can tell you for Jackson County that we could consider that a vote that is currently in place, but an extension of that vote,” Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Michelle Hataway said, referring to Jackson County’s current ⅜-cent sales tax for stadiums. “So that gives you an example of what is a significant contribution.”
That’s easier said than done.
Jackson County’s 2024 stadiums sales tax proposal – also ⅜-cent – failed 58% to 42%. Ahead of the vote, the Royals unveiled a plan for a ballpark in the Crossroads that proved highly controversial. The Chiefs outlined $800 million in upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium.
Whether voters would approve a stadiums sales tax now remains a big open question. It’s also unclear whether voters would be more inclined to support individual sales taxes for the teams; many close observers of the stadiums debate believe Jackson County voters would be more likely to support a Chiefs-only tax that supported upgrades at Arrowhead. A lobbyist for the Chiefs indicated on Tuesday that if the team stays in Missouri, its plans call for $1.15 billion in improvements at Arrowhead.
Another wild card is whether Kansas City leaders would be willing to put forward a city sales tax or another form of financial support.
Shortly after Missouri lawmakers approved the statewide funding plan, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a statement that Kansas City would “continue its work with the Royals to build a robust and responsible area development and incentive plan to keep the Royals in Kansas City, Missouri—building on a generation of investment and growth in Downtown Kansas City.”
Missouri’s financial support, along with Kansas City’s resources and experience in large developments, will allow Kansas City “to move the long conversation on the future of local sports facilities to completion,” Lucas said.
The city will also provide “necessary assistance” to the Chiefs, Jackson County and Clay County to build a “long-term future for Arrowhead Stadium,” Lucas said.
While the Chiefs would remain within Kansas City by staying at Arrowhead, the Royals have discussed a site in North Kansas City in Clay County, along with a site in Washington Square Park near Crown Center if the team stays in Missouri (the most likely Kansas option is the Aspira campus in Overland Park).
Jackson County discord
Any new county-level ballot measure in Jackson County would originate in the Jackson County Legislature – a body frequently gripped by political discord.
During the stadiums debate, Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. has sometimes appeared at odds with the push for new stadium support, a stance he and his allies cast as prudent caution to ensure residents get a good deal. His critics contend White’s been an obstacle to progress with the teams on the line.
But as the Missouri package moves closer to becoming law, both sides are in agreement the state-level offer was an important piece of the puzzle.
Jackson County Legislature Chairman DaRon McGee said in a statement on Wednesday that passage of the statewide plan sets “the stage for robust negotiations with the teams about maintaining the historic legacy of Jackson County as the home of major league teams.”
Pointing to the city’s history of hosting professional teams, from the Negro Leagues to women’s soccer to the NFL, McGee said “we must negotiate agreements that protect out taxpayers while preserving this great legacy.”
Later on Wednesday, White, the county executive, said in a statement that the statewide plan creates a chance for a more equitable funding model for the teams between the state and local entities. Historically, Jackson County has shouldered the entirety of public funding to support the Chiefs and Royals, he said.
“As this process continues, I look forward to working with all stakeholders, including the Chiefs and Royals, to better understand their long-term plans and their commitment to remaining in Jackson County,” White said. “Together, we can ensure our teams stay rooted here while delivering a fair and forward-looking deal for the people who have supported them for generations.”
Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith helped override White’s veto last year to place the stadiums sales tax on the April 2024 ballot. Last time, county legislators opted to put the sales tax before voters even before the teams had committed to locations or unveiled stadium plans.
Smith said that this time, he would want to see plans from the Royals before voting to put another tax before voters. He also acknowledged that his first choice is for the Royals to remain at the Truman Sports Complex – a possibility the team has previously dismissed.
But regardless of what the Royals decide, the team needs to mount a full-throated campaign to convince voters ahead of any vote, he said. Voters are already “skeptical enough” of matters related to Jackson County, Smith said, a statement that reflects the profound frustration among some residents over an ongoing debacle surrounding property tax assessments.
Kansas City’s involvement
Aside from Jackson County’s potential involvement, officials in Kansas City are pushing for the Royals to move to the downtown location at Washington Square Park. Lucas and City Manager Mario Vasquez have both touted that location as the best spot for the team.
Kansas City Councilman Wes Rogers, who represents the 2nd District, said that he believes both Clay and Jackson counties will be able to put forward competitive offers to keep the teams.
For Clay County, that would mean a new sales tax vote, he said. But he said Kansas City itself “may be able to find traditional economic incentives” for the teams. When pressed for details, Rogers said the city had more resources than most cities have at their disposal.
“I’m not saying it won’t be a vote,” said Rogers, who cautioned that he wasn’t directly involved in negotiations. “I’m just saying I think they’ll have more tools at their disposal to put together an offer.”
Asked to clarify whether he was talking about Kansas City itself or Jackson County, Rogers said that, ideally, there would be cooperation between both.
“I’m excited for the next steps,” he said. “I think that we’re going to be able to put together great offers for both teams that are good for the taxpayers too.”
The Star’s Mike Hendricks contributed reporting.