By Tim Carpenter
The Kansas Legislature will be in Topeka starting June 18 to consider a tax relief bill after called into special session by Gov. Laura Kelly. There is no limit on topics lawmakers might consider, which opens the door consideration of a deal for the NFL franchise.
Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins said in a statement establishing a home for the Chiefs on the Kansas side of the state line was an opportunity that deserved “thorough conversation.”
“We have reached out to the Chiefs organization and asked them to weigh in on the possibility of using Kansas’ unique STAR bond funding tool and explore what that collaboration could hold,” the statement said.
The two GOP legislative leaders have discouraged lawmakers from wading into issues during the special session other than tax reform and an economic development package tied to a second professional sports franchise.
Sporting Kansas City, an MLS team, is based in Kansas City, Kansas.
During final days of the 2024 regular legislative session, House and Senate members discussed the possibility of the state issuing hundreds of millions of dollars in STAR bonds to finance construction of a stadium in the Kansas City area. The bonds would be repaid through tax collections within the business district bracketing the replacement for Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The rush to land the Chiefs has been supported by formation of a lobbying organization, Scoop and Score, affiliated with former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman and nearly two-dozen registered Kansas lobbyists.
Initially, the idea was to draw the Kansas City Royals to the Kansas side of the state line. That idea surfaced after Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax proposal for construction of a downtown stadium for the team.
However, proposed legislation floated at the Capitol left open the possibility of either the Chiefs or Royals relocating to Kansas.
“The rich tradition and history of the Chiefs are beloved across the entire Kansas City region and throughout Kansas,” Hawkins and Masterson said. “We’re excited that the Chiefs are open to this conversation and look forward to seeing what mutually beneficial opportunities might lie ahead for both the people of Kansas and the Chiefs franchise.”
The legislative leaders have communicated with Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt to tout potential of the state’s business incentives and strategic locations in Wyandotte County.
The key element of any deal would be STAR bonds, which could be used to finance construction of a stadium and related infrastructure to operate the facility. STAR bonds have been used for all sorts of Kansas economic development projects with debt repaid by collecting sales tax revenue within the bonding business district.
(Photo by Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)
5 comments:
MAHOMES IS THE GOAT WHEREVER HE PLAYS
The Chiefs belong to missouri. Lamar is rolling in his grave because his son is playing games. It's despicable to even entertain the thought of them playing anywhere else, especially kansas or even worse, the banana Republic of Texas.
Professional Sports are all about Money / Income, nothing more. There is no loyalty or love of the game - Money Talks - BS Walks. College athletes though compensated by getting a scholarship will soon get some compensation - Several States have passed laws that require student-athletes to be compensated by third parties for the use of their name, image and likeness.
And your point 507?
He’ll I’d give KS the whole damn city, I’d also give STL to Illinois, thanks for taking our trash
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