On Saturday morning, the Kansas City Royals confirmed that the franchise is willing to relocate across the state line after Kansas lawmakers suggested new incentives to bring another professional sports team to the state this week.
Kansas lawmakers will discuss a STAR Bond proposal for up to two stadiums during Governor Laura Kelly’s special session on June 18, which will also include a review of a tax relief package.
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According to the Royals, “As we’ve stated since April 2, we must consider all ideas regarding the new stadium. The Royals need a home to play baseball in the foreseeable future, and the recent STAR Bond discussions in Kansas give us an avenue to pursue.”
These ‘discussions’ are part of a campaign to change the language of the STAR Bond in order to entice the Chiefs and Royals to relocate to the Sunflower State.
J.R. Claeys, a Republican and Salina State Senator, stated that the STAR Bonds would cover $1.5 billion of the $2 billion development plan to bring the Kansas City Chiefs to the state. This increases the bonds’ temporary value and entices the team(s) with a new stadium, as well as state tax and revenue collection.
The Royals have been rather silent since losing the Jackson County, Missouri, stadium sales tax vote in April.
16% (roughly 21,000 votes) voted against this proposal, which would have helped the Kansas City Royals move from Kauffman Stadium to a new downtown ballpark while keeping the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium for at least another 25 years.
Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman declared, “We respect the Jackson County voters and the results of the election today,” upon the announcement of the results. We will take some time to reflect and absorb the outcome before determining a course of action that is beneficial to both the Royals and our supporters.
Now, two months later, the team’s most recent statement reaffirmed the possibility of a jump across the state line, potentially prompting Jackson County legislators to act with a counter-incentive.
However, Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri’s 5th District and Kansas Democratic Congresswoman Sharice Davids of the 3rd Congressional District both stated that they would prefer that this not be a competitive situation with the region’s sports teams.
“I guess I can’t blame the people of Kansas for wanting the Kansas City Chiefs there,” Congressman Cleaver stated.
“I also believe that if we are not attentive in important relationships, we may cause harm. We’ve made an effort to collaborate as a single metropolitan area with MARC, and the Mid-American Regional Council has done a commendable job of maintaining our unity. Therefore, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about… I would rather be at war with Minneapolis or Seattle than with a hamlet across the river.”
This is not to say that there aren’t some grievances among Kansas City people and organizations.
In reference to the STAR Bond revisions, Americans For Prosperity Legislative Director Michael Austin told FOX4 News reporter Jonathan Ketz that he doesn’t want the legislature to focus on bond reform during the legislative special session scheduled for June 18th, even if state lawmakers pass another tax plan first.
According to Austin, a Kansas Legislative Division Post Audit report submitted in August 2021 revealed that 13 of the 16 projects funded using STAR Bonds did not meet the Kansas Department of Commerce’s goals.
In contrast, Hutchinson’s Underground Salt Museum, Topeka’s Heartland Park, and the Village West Kansas Speedway projects all met the Department of Commerce’s STAR Bonds goals of attracting 20% of tourists from other states and 30% or more of visitors from at least 100 miles away. Hutchinson’s Underground Salt Museum, Topeka’s Heartland Park, and the Village West Kansas Speedway projects all attained those goals.
“The three that met the two goals tend to be unique projects,” Legislative Post Audit Deputy Post Auditor Kristen Rottinghaus told FOX4 on Friday. “[They’re] not something that you would find just anywhere, so from that perspective, the Chiefs stadium would be… unique to the region, let’s say.”
It is unclear whether Kansas’ STAR Bond amendments will produce a compelling enough proposition to secure one of the state’s teams. What is certain, however, is that each organization has stated that they are exploring all alternatives, presenting a historic quandary for both teams.
The Chiefs have yet to comment on the matter, but Kansas House and Senate leadership recently met with team representatives in Topeka after inviting them to join the discussion in a letter to CEO and Chairman Clark Hunt.
