Kansas lawmakers are looking to fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, with temporary changes to the STAR Bonds program. The plan aims to attract professional sports franchises from the NBA, NHL, NFL, or MLB. Only two stadium projects would be allowed, with a minimum investment of $1 billion and requirements for stadiums with at least 30,000 seats and practice facilities.
The proposed stadiums and facilities do not have to be built in the same area. Kansas lawmakers hope to capitalize on the recent rejection of a sales tax initiative in Jackson County that would have funded stadium projects for the Chiefs and Royals. Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt has confirmed that the team is exploring options outside of Jackson County.
Representative Sean Tarwater believes that it is important to send a positive message to the sports community and sees an opportunity for Kansas to step in where Jackson County did not. Lawmakers plan to continue working on the details of the package at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka.
