The Kansas City Chiefs, reigning Super Bowl champions, may be considering a significant geographical shift.
A potential legislative move in Kansas could see the Chiefs, along with Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals, transition from their current Missouri base to Kansas. The catalyst for this potential move is a bill that could offer substantial tax incentives aimed at bolstering the state's tourism and entertainment sectors.
According to The Business Insider, the bill is currently under scrutiny in a special legislative session in Kansas. If passed, it could provide the sports teams with hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the construction of new stadiums in Kansas. "If we want to be major league, we've got to have major league teams," Korb Maxwell, an attorney representing the Chiefs, told lawmakers. He emphasized the significance of this opportunity, stating, "This is the greatest opportunity we've had in any generation, and it's here before us right now."
The proposed legislation aims to fortify the state's Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond program. As reported by The Kansas City Star, this would enable Kansas to issue bonds covering up to 70% of the cost of constructing new stadiums for one or both teams. The bill stipulates that the teams must invest at least $1 billion in the new stadiums and training facilities. The bond would be repaid over 30 years using funds from sports gambling and lottery money.
However, Missouri is not ready to let go of the Chiefs without a fight. Jackson County, Missouri officials have proposed a resolution for a countywide sales tax, which could fund improvements to the Chiefs' existing stadium or even the construction of a new one, as reported by local Kansas City outlet KSHB.
The Chiefs' current home, the 50-year-old Arrowhead Stadium, is in dire need of renovations, with the last major refurbishment taking place in 2011. Team President Mark Donovan has previously outlined three potential options: renovating the existing stadium, building a new one on-site, or relocating entirely. In 2022, Donovan even suggested the possibility of a move from Missouri to Kansas.
Supporters of the move argue that if no action is taken to retain the Chiefs and the Royals in Kansas City, the teams could opt to leave the Kansas-Missouri region entirely. Such a development could have a profound impact on local sports fans.
Representatives for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals have not yet responded to a request for comment from Business Insider. The potential move underscores the importance of sports teams to local economies and the lengths to which states will go to retain or attract them.
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