McDowell: Why The Chiefs Pursuit to Renovate Arrowhead Has Hit A Snag

[tk13]

We've been talking about this for a few weeks over in the Royals thread. It's been interesting to see how quiet the Chiefs have been while the Royals negotiate for a new stadium, and in the last couple weeks there's more and more smoke that the Chiefs and Royals staying in Jackson County is not a sure thing. Sam McDowell finally wrote about it. It's a very long column so I just picked some highlights. It's a good breakdown of the situation. It sounds like Kansas hasn't made any serious offers but they're the obvious alternative if Jackson County decides to punt, and it sounds like the Royals and Chiefs want answers soon.

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/sp...282553078.html

The Chiefs are quietly evaluating the need to pursue alternatives outside Jackson County as their push to negotiate a renewal of a county-wide sales tax has failed to launch substantive conversations, multiple sources told The Star. Well, it was quietly. You’re probably aware of the recent rhetoric, including from some local politicians, implying that the Chiefs already have one foot out the door — and are strutting toward Kansas, no less. That gasoline-on-the-fire message follows a worst-case-scenario playbook, not to mention a Kansas City tactic of pitting two states against each other for its prized assets. But this doesn’t paint an entirely accurate picture. The Chiefs have not engaged in serious conversations with outside parties about a move across the state line, sources told me, a sentiment confirmed to The Star’s Katie Bernard by Brianna Johnson, a spokeswoman for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. That doesn’t mean they won’t.

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The Royals started and initially drove the stadium conversation, not only publicly, but behind the scenes too. The Chiefs weren’t completely silent observers, but they appeared content to allow the Royals to negotiate a new lease with Jackson County and county executive Frank White, and then follow with what would ideally be a smoother and quicker conversation.

The latter has just simply not been the case. The former, waiting on the conclusion of Royals’ negotiations, has since changed. What’s been lost along the way is that the Chiefs, too, are interested in an April 2024 ballot measure, for reasons I’ll cover here. And as a Jan. 23 deadline to secure that ballot measure has neared, they ignited their own talks, separate from the Royals, earlier this fall. “We have met with Frank and the county attorneys in an introductory meeting,” Chiefs team president Mark Donovan said in a statement. “We shared that we would like to focus on extending the current 3/8th-cent sales tax. This partnership has served us well for over 50 years, and we look forward to working with them to enhance the amazing community asset that GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium has become.” Where do those talks stand now? “We have not heard back from the county,” Donovan said.

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The Chiefs have sought a 25-year renewal of the 3/8th-cent sales tax passed in 2006, as Donovan’s statement said, with no significant additions to the long-standing lease. That’s the path they are attempting to navigate, with a conclusion that would keep them at Arrowhead, a fan-favorite, for the next quarter-century. But in my discussions with an array of politicos, it’s evident to many that White does not believe the current lease agreement benefits Jackson County, which funds and manages the facilities but does not receive direct revenue from the stadiums. The deal is more complicated than the tax — for example, no one has raised a hand to pay for demolition of Kauffman Stadium if the Royals move, an expense that would total tens of millions of dollars.

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White is positioned at the center of this saga as the county executive who just so happens to be a member of the Royals Hall of Fame. But his lack of eagerness to extend the status quo is not an isolated view within the county, sources said. He has at least some support from the legislature, though there are varying opinions about the reach and depth of that support. And therefore it’s notable that others within the county government want to create a path for the Chiefs to circumvent White by securing backing from a majority of the legislators to extend the sales tax. There is doubt, however, about whether they would have enough support to override a potential veto from White, if it were to come to that.

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The Royals, who have had more frequent meetings with the county, have stated their preference to play downtown baseball sooner rather than later. Their recent focus has primarily been analyzing the logistics of the former Kansas City Star press building along the south loop, and they have started the process of creating renderings for the site, sources said. They’ve also publicly stated their target of an April ballot measure, which comes with that rapidly approaching Jan. 23 deadline. It’s a deadline that the Chiefs are targeting, too — with a more concrete plan, at least to date. I’ll put this out there before I continue: In the course of speaking with several people for this column, there are overwhelmingly more who classify an April ballot measure as a long-shot than those who expect the county and teams to reach an agreement before the mid-January date.

Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/sports/sp...#storylink=cpy

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

Look, I am not happy with him either, but some of the things he said he needs before signing off are actually really good for Jackson County residents, and those things probably should be a part of the proposal.

However, I have said many times, and it pisses people off, but I won't vote for anything that doesn't include covering whatever stadium with a roof, preferably a retractable roof.

You sound like a sensible ****ing man

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Frank White is a piece of shit who should not be in a leadership position

Maybe he's still butthurt about the Royals announcer thing

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

You sound like a sensible ****ing man

I am thinking about the community and not Twisted's precious game day experience.

A stadium with a retractable roof would result in millions of dollars every year for the small businesses in and around Jackson County.

More concerts, a Final Four, and all types of events that we either don't get, or barely get because we don't have a place for it.

****. I would be absolutely OK if they use the plans for Arrowhead, made "renovations" from the jump, and just get a roof on it.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

Are they the Missouri Chiefs now?

Pretty much.

You think they'll change it to the Wyandotte Chiefs?

[DrunkBassGuitar]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Lol this is an awful excuse to pay for billionaires. As a KCMO resident it would be awesome if both went to KS

as a johnson county resident, I think the current arrowhead should stay the home of the chiefs, it's got good mojo and tradition

[DrunkBassGuitar]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

I really don’t understand the entire downtown stadium thing. Are you there for the game, or something else? The Truman sports complex was a brilliant idea 50 years ago, and continues to shine. “But I can’t find a BW3 or an AirBNB within walking distance” is a shit excuse to spend a billion and remove an iconic facility.

Basically because parking lots are a terrible use of land. You put a stadium downtown where all the stuff is because people come to see a game, which lasts 3 hours, and then do stuff before and after the game, like go to bars or stay at hotels. Those things, unlike parking lots, generate tax revenue which can be used for all sorts of things.

I would miss the old stadium and be nostalgic for it, but having a stadium in an undeveloped area with a parking lot that's like 4x the size of the stadium itself is a huge waste.

of course you can't really put a stadium in a dense urban area without giving people a way to get to and from it, and lol it's not like we're going to build passenger rail or improve the bus network or anything like that. so moving the stadium will likely involve tearing down buildings to build parking which doesn't really solve the problem with arrowhead's current location

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by DrunkBassGuitar

of course you can't really put a stadium in a dense urban area without giving people a way to get to and from it, and lol it's not like we're going to build passenger rail or improve the bus network or anything like that. so moving the stadium will likely involve tearing down buildings to build parking which doesn't really solve the problem with arrowhead's current location

That's the rub right there.

It's would be a traffic/parking nightmare.

Majority of people @ Arrowhead don't need a bars/restaurants.

Chiefs fans take great pride in tailgating, which included food and drink.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Speaking of Baseball.
The biggest mistake they made out here when they built Coors Field downtown was the number of seat they (added) squeezed into that location after the original design. It should 2/3 the size it is. It is 70% empty most games similar to Kauffman. If the Royals move downtown the stadium should hold no more than 35000. Keep it small and intimate.

[kcfan75]

I have lived in JoCo most of my life, and I think that all of the counties in KC(in both states) should chip in and pay for it. We all benefit from it whether it be monetary or for entertainment. I also 100 percent agree on a retractable roof. It would be great for the city to pull in things like the F4.

The Chiefs continue to make this city relevant and proud, so JoCo add the sales tax.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by kcfan75

I have lived in JoCo most of my life, and I think that all of the counties in KC(in both states) should chip in and pay for it. We all benefit from it whether it be monetary or for entertainment. I also 100 percent agree on a retractable roof. It would be great for the city to pull in things like the F4.

The Chiefs continue to make this city relevant and proud, so JoCo add the sales tax.

The ashes of the light rail proposal say hi

[Kman34]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

The extension of the existing tax seems fair enough to exist in the pro sports space

Footing the bill to demolish Kauffman seems kind of shitty but probably negotiable

So unless there's something more, and I didn't read the entire article, just the OP, it seems the hang up isn't the burden on tax payers but Jackson County (or White) feeling like they're not getting a big enough piece of the revenue pie from the teams

This.. It’s a tax already in place. Not an raise but an extension..

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Pretty much.

You think they'll change it to the Wyandotte Chiefs?

They aren't called the Missouri Chiefs. They are aren't called the Jackson County Chiefs. They are the Kansas City Chiefs. Which spans both Missouri and Kansas. They are the local team for the western half of Missouri and the local team for most of Kansas. So to call them only a Missouri team would be wrong, just as it would be wrong to call them a Kansas team. They are a Kansas and Missouri team. At least in my opinion.

My short version opinion... whatever stadium it is, and wherever it is built, it needs a roof. As others have said, KC is missing out on a ton of revenue by not having a place to handle large sporting events like a Super Bowl or Final Four.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

How about leave Arrowhead where it is and build a giant dome that covers the entire complex. Kind of a miniature version of that Mall of the World in Dubai.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

They are the Kansas City Chiefs. Which spans both Missouri and Kansas. .

Nope.

Broncos aren't called the Cheyenne Broncos just because they have fans in Wyoming.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by DrunkBassGuitar

Basically because parking lots are a terrible use of land. You put a stadium downtown where all the stuff is because people come to see a game, which lasts 3 hours, and then do stuff before and after the game, like go to bars or stay at hotels. Those things, unlike parking lots, generate tax revenue which can be used for all sorts of things.

I would miss the old stadium and be nostalgic for it, but having a stadium in an undeveloped area with a parking lot that's like 4x the size of the stadium itself is a huge waste.

of course you can't really put a stadium in a dense urban area without giving people a way to get to and from it, and lol it's not like we're going to build passenger rail or improve the bus network or anything like that. so moving the stadium will likely involve tearing down buildings to build parking which doesn't really solve the problem with arrowhead's current location

**** that downtown parking is a nightmare. Much prefer Arrowhead and Jerry world venues for parking, because they have dedicated parking.