State takes step toward trying to lure Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri

On Friday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly made a move that will enable the state to lure the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the MLB’s Kansas City Royals from Missouri, via ESPN. Kelly signed legislation that will help both professional sports teams pay for new stadiums if they indeed decide to change locations. 

The Chiefs have had every intent to remain at Arrowhead Stadium, extending the lease in a renovated facility and stadium complex that would keep the franchise in the state of Missouri for the next several decades. The renovation plans still have a hurdle to clear, however, and the state of Kansas is officially ready to pounce. 

Earlier in the week, Kansas lawmakers approved a House bill that would change certain criteria for STAR (sales tax and revenue) bonds qualification, via the Associated Press. STAR bonds are a financing tool that allows Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. The measure now goes to the Kansas Senate. 

The attempt to lure the Chiefs to cross the state line from Missouri to Kansas has been in play. The bill will also require any pro sports team development to include a 30,000-plus seat complex with at least $1 billion in investment. This is also an attempt to lure the Kansas City Royals’ new MLB stadium plans into Kansas. 

The Chiefs announced plans to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this year, but those plans may be changing, thanks to some developments back in April. The voters in Jackson County, Missouri, rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped fund major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium and a new downtown ballpark for the Royals. 

With the measure not being passed, the Chiefs may have to look elsewhere and build a new stadium. A potential move to Kansas doesn’t force the Chiefs to relocate to another city if they can’t reach a deal with Jackson County….


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/could-chiefs-move-to-kansas-state-takes-step-toward-trying-to-lure-team-away-from-neighboring-missouri/

Author : Jeff Kerr

Publish date : 2024-06-22 15:35:07

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