Missouri Eyes Aid Plan to Retain Chiefs and Royals
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has announced that the state is working on a plan to ensure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals remain in the region. According to Parson, the goal is to have an aid plan formulated by the end of the year, a critical move given Kansas' recent approval of a financing scheme that covers up to 70% of the costs for new stadiums for both teams.
For over fifty years, the Chiefs and Royals have shared neighboring stadiums in eastern Kansas City. However, this longstanding arrangement faces uncertainty with their leases expiring in 2031. This has escalated the urgency for Missouri to make a competitive offer. Royals owner John Sherman has already confirmed that the team has no intention of continuing to play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season.
Earlier attempts to secure funding for stadium upgrades in Missouri faced a setback when Jackson County voters turned down a sales tax proposal in April. The proposal would have funded over $2 billion for a new downtown ballpark district for the Royals and contributed to an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium.
Any new proposal to retain the sports teams will require legislative approval and support from Parson's successor and the incoming legislative body. “We’re going to make sure that we put the best business deal we can on the line,” Parson asserted. He added, “I think by the end of this year, we’re going to have something in place.”
Missouri faces stiff competition from Kansas, which is aggressively pursuing the Chiefs and Royals with its financing scheme. Discussions between the teams and the Kansas Department of Commerce could begin at any moment, though the agency has not set a timeline for finalizing a deal. “You know, if I was probably sitting there, I’d be doing the same thing. But at the end of the day, we’re going to be competitive,” Parson remarked.
Parson emphasized the economic significance of keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri: “The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are big business.” However, he stressed that any deal must be economically viable for Missouri's taxpayers. “Has to work out on paper, where it’s going to be beneficial to the taxpayers of Missouri,” he stated.
As Parson's term concludes in January, he does not anticipate calling a special legislative session, leaving the task to his successor and the new legislative body. Any finalized plan will have to balance the interests of the teams, financial feasibility, and taxpayer benefits, a delicate equation that will determine the future of Kansas City's beloved sports franchises.
Meanwhile, other cities are also negotiating similar deals. Jacksonville recently secured a $1.25 billion agreement to renovate the NFL's Jaguars stadium, with costs split between the city and the team. This sets a precedent for how such deals might be structured in Kansas City.
With so much at stake, the coming months will be critical for Missouri’s efforts. As Parson optimistically noted, “We’re going to make sure that we put the best business deal we can on the line.” The outcome of these negotiations will surely be a major focal point for both fans and stakeholders alike.