Kansas legislators have approved a plan to attract the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals to Kansas, moving them from Missouri. Despite Missouri voters rejecting a sales tax renewal for the Chiefs’ stadium, Kansas is pushing forward with bipartisan support for state bonds to finance new stadiums and facilities for the teams.
The plan, now awaiting approval from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, could transform Kansas into a significant professional sports hub. Both teams, whose leases in Missouri end in January 2031, are considering the Kansas option. Chiefs’ attorney Korb Maxwell emphasized the plan’s potential, calling it “incredibly real.”
While the initiative has faced skepticism from voters and economists who argue government subsidies for sports stadiums are costly and inefficient, supporters believe it’s necessary to prevent the teams from leaving the Kansas City area. The measure passed with substantial support in both the state House and Senate, allowing state bonds to cover up to 70% of the new stadium costs, financed through sports betting, lottery ticket sales, and new taxes from surrounding districts.
Debated during a special session called by Gov. Kelly, the stadium plan followed the approval of significant tax cuts. Many legislators argued that failing to support the stadiums would risk losing the teams, despite concerns about subsidies benefiting wealthy owners.
State Rep. Jason Probst and others expressed frustration with the system but voted in favor, recognizing the competitive pressure to retain the teams. Economists warn that new stadiums may not generate significant net economic gains, merely shifting activity within the community. State Sen. Molly Baumgardner, skeptical of the plan, likened the supporters’ enthusiasm to “visions of sugar plums,” ultimately voting against it.
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