Kansas lawmakers pass STAR bonds bill to lure Chiefs, Royals
TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) - On Tuesday, Kansas lawmakers were busy in Topeka as they passed a bill to create a STAR Bond District that brings the state a step closer to making an offer to the Chiefs and Royals.
Members of the House passed the bill early Tuesday afternoon. Senators passed the bill later, after debating it for about two hours.
Some representatives and senators expressed concerns about the plan, saying it could fail because not all STAR Bond projects have been successful or wondered if the Chiefs or Royals are using Kansas to get a better deal from Missouri.
Rep. Susan Ruiz, D-Johnson County, said she loves the Chiefs and Royals but voted against the bill.
“But this Legislature has not been this excited about passing bills funding for really important things that really would help all of the state,” said Rep. Ruiz. She added, “The sports bill it seems to me that it will primarily benefit the five urban counties the five biggest urban counties what about the other 100 counties in the state.”
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stilwell, said it’s time for Kansas to offer its best deal to the pro sports teams after a vote to pay for a new stadium and renovations failed across the state line earlier this year.
“Missouri is kind of known for losing sports teams. They lost the Rams they lost the Scouts, they lost the Kansas City Kings we can’t afford a team that generates this kind of economic activity leave the metroplex. Somebody had to stand up and do something,” Tarwater said. He added, “We are here for them and we want to be a teammate of theirs and that is a whole lot of different message than they were getting on the other side of the state line and I’m looking to finding out one day soon that we have a deal with one of them or both of them.”
The Chiefs released a statement following the final vote in the Kansas Senate.
The Chiefs’ Truman Sports Complex neighbors, the Kansas City Royals, also released a statement Tuesday:
We're grateful to the Kansas Legislature for today’s bipartisan action that gives the state a pragmatic tool in which to achieve its economic development goals. The Kansas City Royals look forward
to additional conversations as we evaluate where we will play baseball in the future. We will always
prioritize the best interests of our fans, associates, and taxpayers in this process.
Approval on the Kansas side doesn’t mean leaders on the Missouri side are throwing in the towel.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the current home of the teams will continue to negotiate with the organizations about their futures.
“Kansas City and the State of Missouri will continue their ongoing negotiations with team leaders to keep the teams in the city and state that have welcomed, funded, and supported the success of both teams since the 1960s. Today’s vote regrettably restarts the Missouri-Kansas incentive border war, creating leverage for the teams, but injecting even greater uncertainty into the regional stadium conversation,” Lucas said following Tuesday’s vote.
He also said the vote in Kansas doesn’t build the stadiums, it only provides the ability to sell bonds without the unknown impact for taxpayers and businesses.
The bill that is now heading to Gov. Kelly’s desk. If Gov. Kelly signs the bill, it would allow the state to use the bonds to fund up to 70% of the cost to build stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals.
If the Governor signs it, the Chiefs or Royals would have a year to go into negotiations and if they are before June 30, 2025, they can extend the deal for negotiations another year.
Kelly indicated that she plans to sign it and said it could change Kansas’ standing as a professional sports state.
“I pledged to work with members of both parties on policies that are beneficial to Kansas. The bipartisan effort to invite the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas shows we’re all-in on keeping our beloved teams in the Kansas City metro. Kansas now has the opportunity to become a professional sports powerhouse with the Chiefs and Royals potentially joining Sporting KC as major league attractions, all with robust, revenue-generating entertainment districts surrounding them providing new jobs, new visitors, and new revenues that boost the Kansas economy.”
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