The Kansas City Chiefs could be leaving their current home, but one potential destination would not have them moving very far.
According to the Kansas City Star, former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. is making an effort and getting involved with people interested in moving the Chiefs from the Missouri side of Kansas City to the Kansas side.
The Kansas City Chiefs could be leaving due to failed vote
The Kansas City Chiefs, owner Clark Hunt and president Mark Donovan were vying for a tax-funded renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. They made vague threats directed at the city that they would move if the vote didn’t pass, which it did not.
Donovan told KSHB 41 what the Chiefs organization would do if the vote did not pass
“I can’t answer that for the Royals. I just know for us the Chiefs, we would just have to look at all our options.”
“I think they would have to include leaving Kansas City. But our goal here is, we want to stay here. And we’re willing to accept a deal for the county to actually stay here.”
Ryckman went on to say that the state of Kansas would move in, along with others, after the news that the Jackson County vote wasn’t enough in a Pro Football Talk article.
“Jackson County fumbled. Now there will be a mad scramble for the ball and we’re in the best position for a scoop and score,” Ryckman said.
The state of Kansas has already taken steps to attract a professional sports team like the Kansas City Chiefs
Despite Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s team refusing to comment on a potential move to her state, Kelly proudly placed the first legal sports bet in the state when sports betting was legalized.
Kelly placed $15 in support of the Chiefs. 80% of sports betting revenue was supposed to go into a fund with the purpose of attracting a professional sports team. According to Pro Football Talk, the fund could reach the $10 million mark by 2025.
While Kelly refused to comment after the vote fell short, she did address the rumors in December of 2023 in an article from KSN.
“You know, I’ve heard those rumors too… you can be assured that we have not approached either the Chiefs or the Royals trying to entice them,” the Governor said in an interview on the Topeka political show “Inside Kansas Politics.” “I think it probably comes out of the fact that the legislature set up that account. You know when we were passing sports betting to lure professional athletic teams. But you can trust me that there won’t be enough money in that account to lure a concession stand.”
If Kansas does want to attract a professional sports team, it will need to find another source of revenue. No NFL stadium built within the last 10 years has cost less than $1 billion. The cheapest stadium opened since 2000, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium, cost $281 million.
The Jackson County vote illustrated how difficult it can be to get fans to pay for a new stadium, meaning the state would need to come up with another method to lure a professional sports team. Fans expressed the sentiment that billionaires should pay for their own stadiums via social media.
Yes, we have to stop being duped by billionaire investors, owners, and organizations into paying for their dream stadiums around the country. Let the billionaires pay for their stadiums, boxes, and fields. Taxpayers money shouldn’t be allowed at all. This was great to hear KC.
— Tim’s Truths- DrPH, Health Behavior Scientist (@babyboi2u) April 3, 2024
we pay for the stadium so they can charge us $50 to park our cars there- $17 hot dogs…. I hope you’re right and people starting to figure this out.
— Lemme Tell Ya (@4kidsnscout) April 3, 2024
Stealing from the middle class and the poor to fund billionaires is SOP for our government.
— epsilona01 (@epsilona01) April 3, 2024
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