Mayor Lucas puts support behind Missouri bill to fund sports facilities
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas Thursday put his support behind a Missouri Senate Bill that would authorize the state to create incentives to help keep professional teams in the state.
Missouri Senate Bill 2986, which was introduced Thursday by Senator Barbara Washington of Kansas City, Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton and Rep. Mark Sharp of Kansas City, would allow the state to support city incentives to retain and attract professional sports teams and entertainment venues under the Missouri Entertainment Facility -- Capital Assistance Program (MEF-CAP) Act.
“The Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs are Kansas City’s teams today and will remains Kansas City’s teams for generations to come,” Lucas said in a statement shared Thursday evening. “I am proud to partner with Senator Barbara Washington, Representative Sherri Gallick and Representative Mark Sharp on the Missouri Entertainment Facility Capital Assistance Program Act -- bipartisan legislation giving Missouri cities the tools we need to keep our professional franchises, attract new teams, and maintain world-class entertainment venues.”
The bill is a response to STAR bond legislation on the other side of the state line that aims to attract either the Chiefs or Royals to the Sunflower State.
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“Professional sports are cities’ economic engines which create jobs, drive tourism, and build civic pride,” Lucas continued, noting without facilities like Arrowhead Stadium it would be harder to attract large artists like Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen or events like the FIFA World Cup.
“The balanced approach in the legislation that responsibly unlocks public support exceeding current competitive offers elsewhere ensures taxpayers are protected while providing a transformative opportunity for Kansas City and communities across Missouri.”
Lucas said the MEF-CAP Act includes “strong taxpayer protections” with caps for total public support and a requirement for private financial commitments to apply for state assistance.
The filing of the bill and support from Lucas comes a day after Jackson County and state leaders met in Jefferson City regarding the subject.
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