Posted on 04/03/2024 2:45:37 AM PDT by Libloather
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question Tuesday night when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, resoundingly voted down a sales tax measure that would helped to fund a new downtown ballpark along with major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.
Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged long before the final tally that the initiative would fail. More than 58% of voters ultimately rejected the plan, which would have replaced an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for the upkeep of Truman Sports Complex -- the home for more than 50 years to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums -- with a similar tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.
The Royals, who had pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for their project, wanted to use their share of the tax revenue to help fund a $2 billion-plus ballpark district. The Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who had committed $300 million in private money, would have used their share as part of an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead Stadium.
"We're deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals," said Sherman, who left without taking questions. "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."
Donovan said the Chiefs would do "what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward."
That could mean many things: The Chiefs could try again with a reworked plan more agreeable to voters, change their entire funding approach to include more private investment...
(Excerpt) Read more at nfl.com ...
The players make enough money that they can build their play pens with their own money.
It was primarily the Royals plan that sunk it. Lots of backlash from the downtown small business community.
The NFL needs some humbling and some serious spiritual guidance.
It is a shame that businesses of that valuation are unable to build their own physical operation facility. /s
Bills boast 4 AFC East titles, but does that justify taxpayers footing bill for stadium?
The Buffalo Bills are set to open their new stadium in 2026, and taxpayers are footing $850 million of that construction bill...
We didn't get a say on that.
The Bills is is in a small market. As I recall, when the old man died the heirs refused to commit to keeping the Bills in Buffalo. Don’t know if that has changed or not.
The Bills is is in a small market. As I recall, when the old man died the heirs refused to commit to keeping the Bills in Buffalo. Don’t know if that has changed or not.
Maybe Joe B should give them a debit card loaded with 10,000 BidenBucks to tide them over.
And the physical location of an NFL franchise has become even less important in recent years due to the growth of two revenue streams: (1) gambling, and (2) TV and streaming video packages that allow fans to see any NFL game from anywhere — without limits imposed by regional broadcasts or local blackouts.
If a normal fan can’t afford a ticket to a game, and the NFL eventually goes 100% streaming for all games, what good is a new stadium going to do for any location?
The NFL doesn’t need to market anymore does it, not when the NFL can have Deep State pick the taxpayers’ pockets for them.
What did bread and circuses do for Rome?
I hear ya. But the reality is these small markets have to decide how much value a pro franchise brings to their respective area. Without the Bills the city of Buffalo is just another rust bucket declining city. And, there’s other opportunities for the Bills. Dallas has been making noises about a second NFL team. And, the city has approved a big pot of money to refresh the Cottonbowl.
However, the city of Dallas’ first choice would be to bring the Chiefs back. The Hunts have strong roots in Dallas. So, if Kansas City wants to keep the Chiefs r they may be wise to pony up the money to modernize Arrowhead Stadium.
Just saying…..
No taxpayer money should be used to build these playpens...
Welfare for Billionaires.
The sales tax in Kansas City, MO is already nearly 10% and the crime and poverty is rampant with a woke mayor. The concept of moving the Royals stadium to the Crossroad is idiotic, there is no room there and it is crowded and inconvenient. Kaufman Stadium is beautiful and the parking is plentiful. The only reason to build a new stadium at the Crossroads is so someone or some consortium can profit off the corruption and graft any construction project in KCMO generates. So find out who is promoting this dimwitted idea and see why.
As for Arrowhead, why should there be public investment into this beautiful and famous stadium and then private profit to the Hunt family and the NFL? The Chiefs need to stay at Arrowhead and the Hunt family and the NFL need to invest what they need to invest in order to keep the famous stadium up. Already an ordinary Joe has to spend upwards of 2K to take his wife and kids to a game.
Just have the players pay their “fair share”, like 50% of their salaries annually to defray the costs.
This is a great website that proves beyond any reasonable doubt that any stadium anywhere is a net drain on the local economy—and taxpayers should always vote “no” to any public financing of stadiums:
https://www.fieldofschemes.com/
Public financing of stadiums is a subsidy of the rich by the poor and middle class—insane public policy.
Yet the local papers are filled with "stories" about how many millions surrounding and supporting businesses make, which NEVER happens.
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