A sales tax proposition that would have funded stadium repairs for the Kansas City Chiefs and the construction of a new ballpark for the Kansas City Royals was rejected by more than 58% of voters in Jackson County, Missouri.
A proposed sales tax that would have paid for the construction of a new $2 billion ballpark for the MLB franchise Kansas City Royals and repairs to Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, was put to a vote in Jackson County on Tuesday night, April 2.
Both clubs were devastated to learn that the proposal had been rejected by almost 58% of voters, raising severe concerns about the potential location of future games.
John Sherman, the Royals Owner, said: “We’re deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals, as someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group.”
David Adams, the Royals’ Senior Director of Partnerships, gave a speech on SBC’s Behind the Badge podcast in January. Adams made reference to the public vote on the podcast and discussed how the baseball club would benefit greatly from a new stadium.
In response to the vote, Mark Donovan, President of the Chiefs said the Chiefs will do “what is in the best interest of our fans and our organisation as we move forward.”
Donovan sent a message to Jackson County residents before the vote. Donovan outlined the longstanding connection between the NFL club and the site in his message.
The message read: “Over the past 50-plus years, we have built an incredible partnership between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jackson County. It’s a partnership that has spanned the careers of Hall of Fame players, generated enormous economic and community impact, and elevated the national and international profile of the entire region.”
The message also attempted to highlight the benefits that the area would see from the tax, he stated: “This is not a new tax. Nor is it a tax increase. We’re asking to extend the agreement to have the same sales tax, at the same percentage, with the same level of support as we have today.
“This is a better deal for taxpayers and fans. As a part of this deal, $200mis going back to Jackson County.
“This benefits every citizen of Jackson County. We are delivering historic benefits for the community, as well as keeping our nearly $1bn of annual economic impact in the region, including $572.3m every year in Jackson County.”
The Royals, who pledged at least $1 billion in ownership for their project, intended to utilize their portion of the tax income to contribute to the funding of a $2 billion ballpark district if the referendum had been successful.
Regarding the Chiefs, the NFL franchise would have utilized its portion of the $300 million in private funding as part of a $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium.
In the future, the Royals’ home, Truman Sports Complex, will see its existing lease end on January 31, 2031. While the Chiefs plan to stay at Arrowhead Stadium, Sherman has stated that the Royals will not play at Kauffman Stadium after the 2030 season.
“We’ve been talking a lot about the democratic process. We respect the process,” Donovan said. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We’re ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this County.”
This comes at the period of global expansion for the NFL, having grown its Global Markets Programme (GMP) with four new clubs and five new markets recently.
