Kansas lawmakers are working on a plan to fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, despite recent rejection of a sales tax initiative in Jackson County. The plan includes temporary changes to the STAR Bonds program to attract professional sports franchises from the NBA, NHL, NFL, or MLB. Only two stadium projects would be allowed, with a minimum investment of $1 billion and requirements for stadiums with at least 30,000 seats and practice facilities.
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt has confirmed that the team is exploring options outside of Jackson County. Lawmakers hope to capitalize on this opportunity by sending a positive message to the sports community and providing funding for new stadiums in Kansas. Representative Sean Tarwater believes that it is important 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. This allows for more flexibility in terms of location and cost-effectiveness. Lawmakers are hoping that by providing funding for new stadiums in Kansas, they can attract professional sports franchises from around the world and boost tourism in the state.
