Amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas remains hopeful about what lies ahead. As the Chiefs and Royals continue weighing their stadium options, Lucas voiced his optimism that both teams will stay in Kansas City during a World Cup community event held Sunday at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park, Kansas.
Lucas pointed to several reasons behind his confidence that the Chiefs will stay put.
“I’ve had optimism all the time, and I think there are more and more reasons for that,” the mayor of Kansas City said in an interview via The Kansas City Star. “I said (last summer) that I believe we’d have a compelling Missouri state offer. We’ve gotten to that.”
“It took a little longer than perhaps some would have wanted. I think the local government conversation is something that continues to proceed, as well. … Kansas City, Missouri continues extension conversations with the Royals, and with the Chiefs the outreach is ongoing.”
The Chiefs and Arrowhead Stadium
The Chiefs have put forward a $1.15 billion plan to renovate Arrowhead Stadium, their home since 1972, with their current lease running through 2030. At the same time, proposals for a domed stadium in Kansas have surfaced, potentially moving the team out of Missouri for the first time since 1962.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe recently approved a massive funding package designed to keep the Chiefs from relocating to Kansas. The bill includes over $1.5 billion in proposed funding to help ensure the team stays in Missouri.
Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ home since 1972, is widely regarded as one of the loudest and most intimidating venues for opposing teams in the NFL.
“I frankly continue to hope that we have it resolved sooner rather than later,” Lucas said. “The June 30 deadline set up by the state of Kansas may be a little tough for us, but we’re going to make sure that we have a compelling offer to both teams in that time,” Lucas added.
“Kansas City, and the state of Missouri, is where they need to be. In terms of where the offers are, I think it will be on the teams to decide how quickly they want to proceed,” he continued.
In the end, all signs point to the Chiefs continuing to call Missouri home.
