‘We can’t sit idly’: State rep to ask for special session to keep Chiefs in Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas lawmakers appear poised to try and lure the Kansas City Chiefs across state lines. Missouri legislators may respond with action of their own.

On Tuesday, two of the top politicians in Kansas informed Chiefs owner Clark Hunt that they would consider a bill in an upcoming special session allowing the state to issue STAR Bonds in the case of attracting a sports stadium to the state.

Missouri State Representative Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City) told KCTV5 that he would ask Governor Mike Parson to convene a special session over Kansas’ attempt to pull the Chiefs away. Parson has been out of the country in Italy on a trade mission but is slated to return to the U.S. on Wednesday.

“We can’t just sit idly by and just allow Kansas to steal our Kansas City Chiefs right in front of us,” said Sharp. “We have to be aggressive and we have to be as aggressive as the Kansas legislature is currently.”

Kansas Rep. Sean Tarwater confirmed to KCTV5 that lawmakers had a bill in hand to bring to the special session called by Gov. Laura Kelly on June 18. The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate sent a joint letter to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt informing him of the drafted bill.

“The Chiefs will also weigh in saying they are in support, and they have spoken with us,” Tarwater told KCTV5.

The team declined to give a statement or comment on the matter on Tuesday evening.

Jackson County voters rejected a 3/8-cent sales tax proposal that would have gone toward funding a downtown ballpark for the Royals and renovation of Arrowhead Stadium.

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

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