Getty Picture / Kirby Lee
On Tuesday, a referendum introduced to the voters of Jackson County, Missouri to increase a 3/8% gross sales tax to assist fund a proposed new downtown stadium for the Kansas Metropolis Royals and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium, residence of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, failed. 58% voted towards the proposal, whereas 42% voted for it.
The long run areas of each franchises is now doubtful. The Royals may transfer to a special market altogether, and whereas it’s onerous to see the Chiefs doing that, they might transfer throughout the border into Kansas.
And, highly effective folks within the Kansas authorities are already attempting to woo the Chiefs to cross the border. Right here’s Professional Soccer Speak with extra.
In keeping with the Kansas Metropolis Star, an effort has commenced to get the Chiefs to construct a brand new stadium in Kansas. Particularly, former Kansas Home Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. is “quietly working” with “unnamed events” who’re involved in getting the Chiefs to make a brief transfer throughout the state line.
The information comes in the present day after a proposal to fund a renovation to Arrowhead Stadium with an extension of an current gross sales tax failed badly on the poll field.
“Jackson County fumbled. Now there will likely be a mad scramble for the ball and we’re in the most effective place for a scoop and rating,” Ryckman instructed the Star.
Satirically, I used to be simply within the Kansas Metropolis space. I crossed the border from Missouri into Kansas to get some barbecue, and I by no means would’ve recognized had the Uber driver not mentioned one thing. In the event that they had been going to construct new as an alternative of renovating Arrowhead, it will be completely high quality to have it throughout the border in Kansas.
However, I nonetheless suppose that Chiefs proprietor Clark Hunt want to get a deal accomplished to renovate the enduring Arrowhead Stadium. The lease at Arrowhead expires in 2030, so time is ticking. It takes time to construct a brand new stadium or render and full big renovations to an current stadium.
