The headline may be that the Chiefs are moving to Kansas.
Not a big deal, most people already probably thought they played in Kansas. There’s been a lot of geographic confusion over the years. It got mostly cleared up in recent years as the Chiefs have made several Super Bowl appearances. Just when people realized that the Chiefs actually played in Missouri, it was announced this week that the team will be moving to Kansas City, Kansas, or Wyandotte County as they announced (potentially to avoid confusion).
For geography people it had to be a little satisfying that finally people knew which state the Chiefs played in.
But financing for $30 billion dome stadium complex has been secured from the State of Kansas. The state will take on a reported 70-percent of costs.
There is less joy across state lines in the city of Kansas City, MO.
Like all stadium deals, there are deals that are either made or not made with city or state officials regarding who’s paying for what, and in most cases renovations or the cost of a new stadium. This has been going on for decades, Kansas City is just the latest example.
The KC Star reports, the city of Kansas City pushed back enough against such deals and tax proposals to fund the Chiefs, that the team that called the city home since 1974, had enough.
Per the Star: “However, once the renewed tax was shut down, the Chiefs began engaging publicly in discussions about moving across the border – and soliciting financial incentive proposals from multiple bodies in Kansas and Missouri. Monday’s decision was the result of more than a year and a half of offers and counteroffers from state and local officials on both sides of the state line, a process that would outlast White’s truncated second term as county executive.”
Ultimately, the NFL is a guiding force behind some of these moves, advocating for teams to get new stadiums that feature the best in capacity, field surfaces, parking etc, nearby hotel rooms for Super Bowls and more. Nostalgia for the old stadiums is gone. It seems as though every old stadium is subject retirement except for maybe Lambeau field.
Here’s what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement:
“This is a great day for Kansas City Chiefs fans. This public-private partnership, the result of a thoughtful and deliberate process, will build upon the Hunts’ generational legacy by boldly investing in one of America’s greatest fan bases. The Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium will be a stage for unforgettable moments, whether it’s playoff games, concerts or championship events. We congratulate the Chiefs and the Kansas City community on this important achievement.”
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said the Chiefs “decided to abandon Lamar Hunt’s legacy at the iconic Arrowhead Stadium, a place that Chiefs fans have rallied around since 1972. At Arrowhead, every game feels like a Super Bowl. No new stadium will replicate that.”
