In an effort to attract professional sports franchises from the NBA, NHL, NFL, or MLB, lawmakers in Kansas are working on a plan to fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals. The proposal includes temporary changes to the STAR Bonds program, which would only allow for two stadium projects with a minimum investment of $1 billion and stadiums seating at least 30,000 spectators. Additionally, practice facilities are required for the teams.
Despite recent rejection of a sales tax by Jackson County voters to help fund stadium projects for the teams, Kansas Representative Sean Tarwater emphasized the importance of sending a positive message to the sports community. To this end, lawmakers are pushing for a solution that would benefit both the Chiefs and Royals, ensuring that Kansas remains an attractive destination for professional sports teams. Efforts to finalize the details of the funding package are expected to continue at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka.