Kansas lawmakers are looking to capitalize on the recent rejection of a sales tax initiative in Jackson County by working on a plan to fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. The plan involves temporary changes to the STAR Bonds program, which will be used to attract professional sports franchises from the NBA, NHL, NFL or MLB. Only two stadium projects would be allowed under this plan, with a minimum investment of $1 billion and requirements for stadiums with at least 30,000 seats and practice facilities.
Representative Sean Tarwater believes that it is important to send a positive message to the sports community after the rejection of the sales tax initiative in Jackson County. He sees an opportunity for Kansas to step in where Jackson County did not. Lawmakers plan to continue working on the details of the package at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka.
The proposed stadiums and facilities do not have to be built in the same area, but lawmakers are hoping that they will help attract professional sports franchises to move their teams to Kansas City. The hope is that these new stadiums will bring economic growth and jobs to the region.
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt has confirmed that his team is exploring options outside of Jackson County now that there are no longer plans for a new stadium there. This news only strengthens Kansans’ determination to find other ways to bring professional sports teams here without relying on increased taxes.
