Sports in Kansas: A Stadium Showdown with New Proposals and Hopes

Kansas lawmakers are working on a plan to fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. The proposal includes temporary changes to the STAR Bonds program to attract professional sports franchises from the NBA, NHL, NFL, or MLB. This plan would only allow for two stadium projects, with a minimum investment of $1 billion and stadiums seating at least 30,000 spectators. Practice facilities are also required for the teams.

The stadiums and facilities do not need to be built in the same location. Kansas Representative Sean Tarwater emphasized the importance of sending a positive message to the sports community after Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax that would have helped fund stadium projects for the teams. The Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt has indicated that the team is exploring options outside of Jackson County, prompting Kansas lawmakers to push for a solution.

In an effort to secure funding for new stadiums that would benefit both the Chiefs and the Royals, lawmakers are working tirelessly to finalize the details of the funding package at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka. The ultimate goal is to ensure that Kansas remains an attractive destination for professional sports teams.