The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City became uncertain on Tuesday night as Jackson County residents decisively voted against a sales tax measure.
This measure aimed to finance a new downtown ballpark and significant renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.
Even before the results were announced, Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan had anticipated the failure of the initiative.
Over 58% of voters rejected the plan, which would have substituted an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that was funding Truman Sports Complex with a similar tax for the next 40 years.
The Royals, committing over $1 billion from ownership, had plans for a $2 billion ballpark district funded by their share of the tax revenue. Meanwhile, the Super Bowl champion Chiefs had pledged $300 million in private funds for an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium.
Donovan stated that the Chiefs will prioritize the needs of their fans and organization as they progress.
This could involve revising their proposal to gain voter approval, adjusting their funding strategy to incorporate more private investment, or considering offers from other cities and states, like Kansas, for the public funding they seek.
“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.”
The current lease at Truman Sports Complex is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2031. The Royals have stated that they will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, while the Chiefs are optimistic about staying at Arrowhead Stadium.
The stadium plans faced public opposition from the beginning due to a lack of transparency and concrete proposals from the teams.
Last fall, the Royals presented two possible locations for their ballpark district but failed to finalize a plan within their deadline. Eventually, they chose a new downtown spot in the Crossroads area, known for its vibrant arts and restaurant scene.
This location is close to key attractions such as the T-Mobile Center, Power & Light entertainment district, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the 18th & Vine district. However, details of the new ballpark plans remained unclear.
Recently, the Royals had to modify their renderings after agreeing to keep a major street open following a request from Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. This change was necessary for Lucas to endorse the tax initiative.
“I think everyone has the same mixed feelings,” said Deidre Chasteen, a voter from Independence, Missouri, who remembers attending games downtown at old Municipal Stadium when the Royals played there from 1969-72.
“It’s not that we mind paying the three-eighths-cent sales tax. I think the problem is putting the stadium where it is,” Chasteen said. “We’re saying don’t ruin businesses that have been established down there for years.”
The club had not yet finalized sales agreements with several landowners in the Crossroads area. Additionally, other businesses had raised concerns about traffic, congestion, and parking issues in the already bustling residential neighborhood.
Sarah Tourville, the executive vice president of the Royals, stated that the aim was to start playing in the new stadium by the opening day of 2028.
In 1973, the Royals moved from Municipal Stadium to Kauffman Stadium and later conducted significant renovations on the ballpark between 2009 and 2012. Arrowhead Stadium was constructed adjacent to Kauffman Stadium and underwent renovations around the same time.
Although the Royals are pushing for a new stadium, the Chiefs preferred to remain at their current location and undergo a comprehensive renovation that would enhance every aspect of their 52-year-old venue, including seating arrangements, luxury amenities, and tailgating facilities.
“We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose father, Lamar Hunt, helped get the existing stadiums built, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we’ve outlined.”
The Chiefs were optimistic that their recent success, which included winning three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, would influence voters to support them.
“What my dad loved best about the stadium was the connection the team had with our fanbase,” Hunt said. “He loved this building for what it means to the fans, and we still believe it is one of the best stadiums in the National Football League and a bucket-list destination for fans across the NFL.”