Latest on Chiefs' stadium relocation: Kansas green-lights $1,000,000,000 development to lure Super Bowl champions across state lines
In April, residents of Missouri voted against an increased sales tax to improve the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium. The tax would have also built a new downtown stadium for the MLB's Kansas City Royals. Both the Chiefs and Royals are under contract at their current stadiums until 2031; however, in the meantime, both teams are considering their options for the future.
On Monday, lawmakers in the state of Kansas presented legislation that may help convince both the Chiefs and the Royals to cross state lines. Kansas is set to give $1 billion in bonds for stadium projects, with the bonds being repaid over 30 years and with the use of sales tax accumulated from the stadium district.
The plan for the stadium projects would be part of Kansas' tax incentive program, which is used to fund entertainment and tourism projects. Although the two teams would be moving across state lines and into Kansas, both teams would still be in the Kansas City market and amongst their fan bases.
This would help ensure that both fan bases would be in the vicinity to attend games.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, The STAR bond bill which as focused to lure the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas, was approved in a special legislative session, by the Kansas House 84-38. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Chiefs' Chris Jones voiced his opinion on possible stadium move
When the sales tax hit the ballot this spring, Kansas City's veteran star defensive tackle Chris Jones voiced his opinion on the matter. In late March, he posted on X that the stadium should stay where it is in Kansas City, Missouri.
"Keep the stadium in KC."
The tax would have requested $2 billion, which would have been split between the two teams. Public service announcements were made on behalf of the Kansas City teams to encourage voters to vote in favor of the bill; however, they didn't come to fruition and the teams are now left scrambling.
The Kansas City Chiefs have won three Super Bowl titles in the last five seasons, which includes the current back-to-back run the team is currently on. Arrowhead Stadium is packed with loyal fans each week, cheering their team on even when the temperatures are below freezing.
Arrowhead Stadium is in dire need of improvements and with the organization not willing to pay out-of-pocket for the upgrades, a move to Kansas may be the route the team chooses to take.