Kansas City, Missouri – On Saturday, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a legislative package approved by Missouri lawmakers earlier this week that contains hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid to persuade the Chiefs and Royals to remain in the state.
Kehoe, a Republican, ordered lawmakers into a special session, and they approved the plan on Wednesday.
The Chiefs and Royals are presently playing at the Truman Sports Complex on the east side of Kansas City, where Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium share parking facilities. However, their leases with Jackson County, Missouri, expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been trying to figure out the best way forward for several years.
Last year, Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension that would have funded a $800 million restoration of Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, and a $2 billion stadium district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City.
The delayed movement of residents on the Missouri side of the state line to support the franchises caused Kansas lawmakers to allow bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums in the state. The Royals have obtained a mortgage for property in Kansas, but the franchise has also pursued other potential sites in Missouri.
Kansas’ offer is set to expire on June 30, and both clubs have stated that they aim to have a plan in place by that date. Missouri’s legislation permits bonds to cover up to 50% of the cost of new or rebuilt stadiums, as well as up to $50 million in tax credits for each stadium and undefined local government subsidies.
If they decide to stay in Missouri, the Chiefs have proposed a $1.15 billion restoration of Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals have consistently stated that they aim to develop a replacement for Kauffman Stadium.
Stadium subsidies were already a high priority in Missouri when a terrible tornado struck St. Louis on May 16, delivering an estimated $1.6 billion in damage a day after lawmakers finished their annual regular session.
Disaster assistance related to stadium funding garnered universal approval. Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins told lawmakers on Wednesday that she saw the tornado pull the roof off her house and cause devastation in her St. Louis neighborhood.
“Homes are crumbled and leveled,” said Collins, and she continued: “It hurts me to my core to see the families that have worked so hard, the businesses that have worked so hard, to see them ripped apart.”
In a statement to The Associated Press, the Chiefs praised last week’s legislative decision as a “significant step forward” that allows the franchise to continue investigating options for remaining in Missouri. The Royals hailed the legislation as “a critical component of our decision-making process,” but made no site-specific commitments.
“Our focus remains the same: to prioritize the best interests of our team, fans, partners and regional community as we pursue the next generational home for the Kansas City Royals,” the organization stated in a statement to the AP.
Though no particular plans are in the works, the St. Louis Cardinals could be eligible for stadium funding if they pursue a $500 million build. They erected the current Busch Stadium over 20 years ago.
“We have the chance to maybe save what is the symbol of this state,” said state Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis County.
