Missouri's Play to Keep Chiefs and Royals
In a strategic move to retain two of its most treasured sports franchises, Missouri Governor Mike Parson has announced that the state intends to formulate an aid package by the end of the year to prevent the Kansas City Chiefs and the Royals from relocating to Kansas.
The urgency of this announcement comes on the heels of Kansas approving a plan to finance up to 70% of the cost for new stadiums for the professional football and baseball teams. The Chiefs and Royals have both called their side-by-side stadiums in eastern Kansas City home for over 50 years. However, the looming threat of their departure across the border has propelled Missouri into action.
Governor Parson expressed a strong commitment to ensuring that both teams remain in Missouri. "We're going to make sure that we put the best business deal we can on the line," Parson stated. A ruthless competition has ensued, as Kansas proves determined to woo the franchises. "Look, I can't blame Kansas for trying. You know, if I was probably sitting there, I'd be doing the same thing. But at the end of the day, we're going to be competitive," Parson added, underscoring the broader significance of both teams. "The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are big business."
Both the Chiefs and Royals have their stadium leases running until 2031, but signs of impending change are evident. Royals owner John Sherman has publicly declared that the team will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season. This has set alarm bells ringing, considering the recent rejection by Jackson County, Missouri, voters of a sales tax in April. The tax would have helped fund a more than $2 billion downtown ballpark district for the Royals and an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium.
Finding an economically viable solution that serves the taxpayers is paramount for Parson. "Has to work out on paper, where it's going to be beneficial to the taxpayers of Missouri," he insisted. Despite the tight timeline with his term ending in January and no plans for a special legislative session before then, Parson remains optimistic. "I think by the end of this year, we're going to have something in place" to propose for the stadiums, he assured.
The critical negotiations and legislative decisions to follow will certainly be closely watched. The Kansas Department of Commerce, for its part, has not yet set a timeline for finalizing a deal, leaving Missouri some breathing room to formulate its proposal.
Interestingly, as Missouri grapples with keeping its professional teams, other states are also making strides in stadium financing. In Jacksonville, Florida, a $1.25 billion stadium renovation plan for the NFL's Jaguars was recently approved, with the costs being split between the city and the team. This scenario might offer a glimpse into the types of partnerships and funding arrangements that Missouri could consider.
With the clock ticking on his term, Governor Parson is determined to leave a legacy marked by the successful retention of the Chiefs and Royals. The battle lines are drawn, and Missouri's proposition will need to be compelling enough to match or outbid Kansas’s formidable offer. The outcomes of these negotiations will undoubtedly shape the future of professional sports in the region.