Top Kansas legislators, including House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, have put forth a proposal to allow the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to shape a plan for using state bonds to finance a new stadium in Kansas. The Legislature will consider this proposal during a special session set to convene on June 18. They have invited the Chiefs to provide insights and expertise on the project, emphasizing that the team’s stature and experience in professional sports will be crucial in shaping the initiative to align with the interests of all stakeholders involved.
A new Kansas nonprofit group called Scoop and Score has launched a campaign to bring the Chiefs from Missouri to Kansas. The group has started an online petition aimed at the Legislature, sent texts advocating for the Chiefs to have a permanent home in Kansas, and registered 20 lobbyists – including a former House speaker and prominent contract lobbyists – to represent them at the Statehouse. This move comes after voters in Missouri rejected extending a local sales tax used to maintain the complex housing Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, home to the Kansas City Royals.
The plan favored by Hawkins, Masterson, and other members of the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature entails paying off bonds for a new stadium with sales and alcohol tax revenues generated in a designated area around the stadium. This method is similar to how the state and officials in Kansas City, Kansas, financed the construction of NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway and an adjacent shopping and entertainment district. The legislators believe that this initiative will not only strengthen the Kansas City Chiefs but also benefit Kansas taxpayers and significantly impact the state’s economy.
Before the special session was called, some legislators were pushing a similar proposal to build new stadiums in Kansas for both the Chiefs and the Royals. However, the plan never came to a vote. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly called the special session primarily to consider broad tax cuts after vetoing three previous tax plans, but legislators have the freedom to consider any proposals they want. The earlier stadium-financing proposal faced opposition from groups like Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, which have long been against the use of bonds for large projects and have influence among Republicans.
It is reported that Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt hinted at considering a broader perspective regarding the team’s future home after the vote in Missouri. The Chiefs had hoped to use their share of the local sales tax to fund an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead. With the potential for the Chiefs to have a say in shaping the financing plan for a new stadium in Kansas, the prospects for the team remaining in the state are likely to gain momentum. As the special session approaches, the legislative discussions surrounding this proposal and its implications for Kansas’ sports landscape and economy are expected to take center stage.
