Chiefs owner says leaving Arrowhead Stadium is an option after sales tax funding was rejected
The Kansas City Chiefs intend to consider abandoning Arrowhead Stadium after voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a sales tax referendum that would have helped paid for renovations to the 52-year-old facility.
The Chiefs and Royals, whose Kauffman Stadium is located in the Truman Sports Complex beside the football stadium, have relied on a three-eighths cent sales tax to fund their operations. The franchises wanted to extend the tax, with the Royals using their part for a new downtown ballpark and the Chiefs planning a $800 million restoration of Arrowhead.
Following widespread criticism of the campaign, more than 58% of voters rejected the sales tax referendum.
“Time is short for us at this point and so we need to see what other options are out there for us,″ Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said Saturday. “When we started on this process three years ago, it felt like we had a very long time — a long runway with about 9 1/2 (years) left on our lease. We’re now down to 6 1/2 and so I do feel very much of a sense of urgency.”
Hunt, whose father Lamar founded the Chiefs and helped to get Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums built, has always preferred to renovate a stadium that his father called one of his favorite places in the world. The Hunt family had promised to spend $300 million in private funds on the renovation with the remainder coming from public funding.
Now, the Chiefs are left to consider overtures from other locations. One of those could be just across the state line, where public officials in Kansas have made it clear that they would love to have the Chiefs on their side of the border.
“Stadium development projects just take a long time,” Hunt said, “and I don’t want to put a specific number on it, but with only 6 1/2 years left on the lease, we’re going to have to work very hard over the next year, year-and-a-half.”
Whatever direction the Chiefs go next, Hunt indicated they would head that way on their own, rather than be tied together with the Royals. That would give the NFL franchise greater latitude to seek the best financing package for itself, whether that means with a renovation of Arrowhead Stadium in mind or a completely new facility elsewhere.
“There’s certainly nothing to preclude us coming back and doing something together,” Hunt went on to say, “but (Royals owner John Sherman) also feels that sense of urgency and I know he’s eager to try to find a long-term solution, which we are as well.”
Kansas politicians are renewing their efforts to bring the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to the Sunflower State.
Lawmakers met on Monday and proposed amendments to an economic development program that would allow both teams to potentially relocate. The proposal would repeal a current House bill that allows STAR bond districts to fully fund professional sports venues in Kansas. That is with a minimum investment of $1 billion.
Up to two professional teams might then utilize the bonds to construct stadiums throughout the state.
