Chiefs hope to have ‘some direction’ for stadium plans by spring

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It has been more than six months since Jackson County residents voted to reject a stadium sales tax for renovating Arrowhead Stadium. It could be another six months before they know the team‘s plans for the stadium’s future.

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt spoke with the local media Wednesday for the first time since training camp and fielded questions on the stadium conversation.

Hunt relayed that the team has worked on gathering information from both sides of the state line to create the options for the Chiefs stadium and potentially a new training facility.

“We are hopeful that by the spring we‘ll have some direction,” Hunt said of the stadium possibilities. “I certainly don‘t expect to have anything finalized by that point, but I’d like to know the direction that we’re headed.”

He added the real deadline is February 2031, when the team’s lease at the Truman Sports Complex expires.

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The Chiefs’ owner added that the most difficult aspect of the project is the number of stakeholders in the city, state and county. Hunt said that after the November elections when Missouri elects a new governor, the opportunity will arise for more constructive conversations.

Jackson County voters rejected a 3/8-cent sales tax proposal to fund a downtown ballpark for the Royals and renovate Arrowhead Stadium.

In late April, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said the organization was reassessing its options for the future, whether that be remaining at Arrowhead Stadium or building a new venue.

Following the failed vote in April, legislators in Kansas passed a STAR bonds bill with the help of Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly that opens a pathway to the teams moving to the Sunflower State.

Hunt said that while the organization was appreciative of the actions taken by the Kansas legislature, the process was by no means over.

“We’re not looking for what‘s easiest. We’re looking for the right opportunity,” he said.

Hunt also said that it was not mandatory for the practice facility and stadium to be next to each other -- as is currently the case -- even if the team stays on the Missouri side or at Arrowhead Stadium.

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