On Tuesday, the citizens of Jackson County voted against a tax referendum the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to fund upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium. The vote wasn’t as close as many reporters in the local area believed it would be.
The Kansas City Chiefs threatened to move away
The Chiefs made several public statements supporting a referendum that would continue a 3/8-cents sales tax in their home county through 2064. The funds would improve Arrowhead Stadium and help build a new ballpark for the Kansas City Royals. Chiefs present Mark Donovan said the team would explore options to move away from Kansas City if the measure didn’t pass.
The Chiefs sent a message Tuesday morning urging voters to “keep the Chiefs and Royals” in the county.
KC, get out and vote today to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County! pic.twitter.com/GLYug5BUK7
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 2, 2024
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talked to the media after voting to continue taxing the county’s residents.
.@Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid after voting YES in Jackson County. @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/Uy4afV0mRZ
— Taylor Hemness 📺 (@taylorhemness) April 2, 2024
The Chiefs’ messaging and CBA incentive (or bribe?) didn’t work.
Jackson County votes down the tax referendum
Per Live Voter Turnout, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, 47,561 voted no. 34,207 voted yes.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas releases a statement
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas released a statement following reports of the referendum failing:
“The people of Kansas City and Jackson County love the Chiefs and the Royals. Today, they rejected plans and processes they found inadequate. Over the months ahead, I look forward to working with the Chiefs and Royals to build a stronger, more open, and collaborative process that will ensure the teams, their events and investments remain in Kansas City for generations to come.”
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) April 3, 2024
On Tuesday evening, the Royals also released a statement saying they respect the voters’ decision.
A statement from John Sherman regarding today's Jackson County election: pic.twitter.com/t85qx0Cwfh
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2024
As of this publishing, the Kansas City Chiefs had not released a statement about the election’s outcome. The Chiefs could very well decide to heed their earlier warning and move from Arrowhead Stadium.
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