Does Kansas Want the Chiefs and Royals More Than Missouri?

The Kansas City Chiefs are in a golden era of winning the likes of which few teams can boast. Seven AFC Championship games in a row, hosting six of them. 5 appearances in the last six Super Bowls with 3 titles. The Royals have made the MLB playoffs 3 times in the last decade, with two World Series Appearances and one championship. That’s a lot of winning.

A lot of money has flowed through the Truman Sports Complex since 2014. Is it time to build a new home for the Chiefs and Royals? The teams think so. Arrowhead has been the Chiefs home since 1972. The Royals have played at Kauffman Stadium since 1973. The average age of an NFL stadium currently is less than 20 years. The average lifespan of an MLB stadium is 20-25 years. Quick math, Arrowhead is 53 years old, Kauffman is 52.

Both have had updates within the last 20 years. The current agreement with Jackson County (and the taxpayers) ends in 2031. Do Arrowhead and Kauffman transition to historical status? Think Lambeau Field in Green Bay, or Soldier Field in Chicago. Or Wrigley Field for the Cubs or Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox. All of the aforementioned have had continual updates that didn’t sully the charm of the old buildings. Is that where Kansas City is at? Are Suburban Sports Complex Stadiums something that need to be preserved?

The Legislators in Kansas have already offered up taxpayer money to move the Chiefs and Royals across the border into the Sunflower state. Last year Jackson County voters strongly rejected a continuation of the existing sales tax that has been in place for the complex. That extension would have paid for a new stadium for the Royals, and updates to Arrowhead for the Chiefs.

Now with just hours left in the legislative session, and the teams ownership groups getting antsy about future plans, Missouri elected officials have crafted a state bonds plan to cover the cost. The Mo. House passed a basic framework of a plan that the senate and Governor would have to sign on to as well, and pretty quickly.

If unprecedented winning by the Chiefs and semi-regular post season appearances by the Royals aren’t enough to rally local support for the teams, maybe it is time for them to find a new place. Bonds may be the beginning of a plan to keep the teams on the Missouri side. Stay tuned.