For the second time in franchise History, the Kansas City Chiefs are free agents. On Tuesday, a few thousand Jackson County voters decided the fate of the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. Now, they have endless possibilities to enhance their vision elsewhere.
Setting aside the impact of the ‘No’ Vote on the Kansas City Royals, the big dog in the room remains the Kansas City Chiefs. They are the pulse of sports in the region. They are the best NFL team on the planet and are now free agents to build a cathedral outside Jackson County limits to expand and capitalize on their championship brand.
The one-third cent sales tax extension should have been extended Tuesday evening, but it failed based on numerous factors. Most involve local politicians with agendas that stretch their power limits but feed their greed.
Who is at fault or how we got to this point is irrelevant. Jackson County voters had their arms twisted by the ‘No’ Vote crowd and an inept Mayor who made demands as late as this past weekend, leading to the Royals and Chiefs looking elsewhere this morning to build a new stadium.
So, what’s next for the football team?
Let me make one thing clear, the Kansas City Chiefs are not leaving the area. They won’t move to San Antonio or any other city; they will remain in the region, likely on the Kansas side of the state line.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has already spoken to the Chiefs about moving to Kansas City, Kansas. Those conversations have been ongoing for a year. She had the foresight to see the Jackson County vote, riddled with chaos, would not pass.
Now, she can bring home her dream to lure the Chiefs to Kansas. If I were the Chiefs, I’d use the city of St. Louis as a prop to get a better deal to stay in Kansas City or move to Kansas. After all, sports franchises are a business, and that will never change.
Granted, not playing games at Arrowhead is painful for the purest of Chiefs fans. However, change is inevitable, and if Chairman Clark Hunt gets a sweet deal from Governor Kelly and the state of Kansas, that’s ultimately the goal; he’ll move the team.
That move to KCK could include a domed or retractable stadium, a new state-of-the-art practice/training facility, a free-standing Hall of Fame, shops, restaurants, and a new Casino/Hotel, all within walking distance of the Legends area, already a top tourist attraction in Wyandotte County.
I never felt great about the Chiefs’ vision to reimagine Arrowhead. Don’t get me wrong; I liked the concept, but the timeline of 2031 for completion made no sense to me at all. The cost of 2024 dollars and the price tag attached to the renovations didn’t account for the inflation costs of 2029 when construction would begin. Granted, the Chiefs indicated they’d cover the cost of tearing down Royals stadium and any overruns that likely would double or triple their costs.
So why pour that money into an old stadium?
That question was answered Tuesday night. Considering the language in the question, I think that, under the circumstances, Jackson County residents voted for or against the measure in the manner they did, which was precisely what Frank White intended it to be – confusing and leaning toward the outcome he ultimately wanted.
He failed to mention that extending the current tax would eliminate the debt owed for the future tax. If the Chiefs and Royals leave Jackson County, Jackson County taxpayers are still on the hook until the bonds expire in 2032.
Regardless, the damage has been done, and the Chiefs, who are at the epicenter of the Kansas City sports scene, have numerous options to find a new home in the region.
That’s probably what they were expecting with Tuesday’s vote. They had to know with so many factions coming out to oppose the extension, the vote could fail. I’m sure they were optimistic, but this allows them to expand their vision to include the Kansas side of the state line.
It’s early to predict what the Chiefs will do from this point, but Hunt and Team President Mark Donovan will do the best for the franchise and the fan base. Either way, some people won’t be happy with the outcome, but if Patrick Mahomes keeps winning Super Bowls, those opposed to the next move won’t care enough not to attend games in a new stadium across the state line.
