On Saturday, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a set of laws that Missouri lawmakers approved earlier in the week. This legislation includes hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid aimed at encouraging the Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri.
Kehoe, who is a Republican, called lawmakers into a special session where they passed the package on Wednesday.
The Chiefs and Royals currently play at the Truman Sports Complex on Kansas City’s east side, sharing parking at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium.
Their leases with Jackson County will end in January 2031, and both teams have been working for several years to find the best path forward.
Last year, Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension that would have funded an $800 million renovation for Arrowhead Stadium, home to the Chiefs, as well as a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City.
The slow progress from Missouri’s side has led Kansas lawmakers to approve bonds covering up to 70% of new stadium costs in their state.
The Royals have secured a mortgage for land in Kansas but are also looking at other potential sites in Missouri
The offer from Kansas will end on June 30, and both teams hope to have a plan ready by that date. Missouri’s law allows for bonds that can cover up to 50% of the costs for new or renovated stadiums, along with tax credits of up to $50 million for each stadium and additional support from local governments.
If the Chiefs decide to stay in Missouri, they are considering a $1.15 billion upgrade for Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals have consistently stated their goal to build a new stadium to replace Kauffman Stadium.
Stadium subsidies were already a major issue in Missouri when a devastating tornado hit St. Louis on May 16, causing around $1.6 billion in damage just one day after lawmakers finished their regular session.
There was broad support for disaster relief linked to stadium funding. On Wednesday, Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins shared with lawmakers how she saw the tornado tear off her roof and harm her neighborhood in St. Louis. “Homes are crumbled and leveled,” Collins said, adding, “It hurts me deeply to see the families who have worked so hard and the businesses that have tried so hard being torn apart.”
In a statement to The Associated Press, the Chiefs called this week’s legislative vote a “significant step forward” that allows them to keep looking at options to stay in Missouri. The Royals referred to the legislation as “a very important piece of our decision-making process,” but did not commit to any specific location.
“Our goal remains unchanged: to put the needs of our team, fans, partners, and local community first as we look for a new home for the Kansas City Royals,” the team stated in a message to the AP.
While they don’t have any specific plans at the moment, the St. Louis Cardinals could also receive stadium funding if they start a project costing at least $500 million. They built their current Busch Stadium almost 20 years ago.
“We have an opportunity to potentially save what represents this state,” said state Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis County.
The proposed legislation did encounter some bipartisan criticism from those who called it a subsidy for wealthy team owners. Others expressed worries that a property tax break for homeowners, added in the Senate to gather support, might violate the state constitution by offering different tax relief levels across counties while leaving some out completely.
“This bill is unconstitutional, financially irresponsible, and ethically wrong,” said Republican state Rep. Bryant Wolfin.
