Early voting starts for Royals and Chiefs stadium tax. Common questions, answered
Jackson County voters have two weeks to decide whether to issue a 40-year, 3/8th-cent sales tax to help pay for a new Royals stadium in the Crossroads and renovations to the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.
This new tax would replace the current tax that funds the Truman Sports Complex, which is set to expire in 2031, and the revenue would be split evenly between the two teams.
The question on the ballot is worded to ask if voters would like to repeal the existing sales tax and replace it with a new one that would last for 40 years.
Early voting starts Tuesday, and absentee ballots are already rolling in.
The teams have shared renderings of the proposed projects and have pledged financial contributions: $1 billion from the Royals for the estimated $2 billion ballpark district, and $300 million from the Chiefs for $800 million renovations.
But they have not yet reached an agreement with county officials on the terms of a lease deal, or with local advocates on the terms of a community benefits agreement.
That means voters don’t yet know the total cost of the project, how much the county would be on the hook for, how much money would go back into the community for things like housing, jobs or education, or how many additional dollars the teams would seek from the city, county or the state.
Here is what we do know so far about the proposed sales tax, Crossroads Royals ballpark, Chiefs stadium renovations and the special election.
What are the plans for a new Royals stadium?
Last month, the Royals announced plans for a new baseball stadium in the East Crossroads, just south of downtown Kansas City. The proposed footprint covers six city blocks, extending from Grand Boulevard to Locust Street, and 17th Street to Truman Road.
The plan also includes a ballpark district around the stadium with offices, retail and residential development.
The Royals plan to have the stadium ready for Opening Day 2028, said Sarah Tourville, the team’s executive vice president.
Royals officials have been talking about a new ballpark for years. The team said they’d announce a site for a proposed baseball stadium by October 2023, but didn’t until February 2024, less than two months before the special election.
Read more:
Check out the new renderings showing where the Royals want to build downtown stadium
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Royals downtown stadium announcement didn’t happen overnight. Here’s how we got here
Where would the Royals get the money for a new ballpark?
The Royals announced they would pay at least $1 billion of the estimated $2 billion project that would include the stadium and surrounding ballpark district. The team has yet not publicly released a budget or total dollar amount for how much the development will cost.
The proposed Jackson County sales tax would go toward a loan the county would take out to build the new stadium, and would also go toward paying off the remaining $200 million the county still owes from the last round of Kauffman and Arrowhead renovations in 2006 that the existing tax is paying back.
The rest of the money needed for the project would come from undetermined sources, likely including the city and the state.
Gov. Mike Parson said Missouri wouldn’t put state money toward the project until after voters approve the county sales tax, and Kansas City officials said the teams haven’t made an official ask for city money yet.
The team said it would cover any overruns once a budget for the project is set.
Read more:
KC Royals reveal plans for new stadium in Crossroads. But who pays what is still unclear
Crossroads Royals stadium would take $33 million worth of properties off the tax rolls
For new stadium, Royals appear committed to a public financing method others avoid
How might the Crossroads change?
The 17.3-acre Royals development would displace at least eight restaurants, seven shops and 12 other organizations. The former Kansas City Star printing facility would be demolished as well.
Some Crossroads businesses said they were concerned about higher rents and having to relocate if a stadium came to the neighborhood. However, some developers said they could profit from selling their properties as values rise.
Kansas City social justice organizations are lobbying for things like expanded bus service, affordable housing and day care around the stadium to be included in the lease agreement.
Read more:
Downtown Royals’ stadium could include former KC Star press site. Here are 5 things to know
In Kansas City’s Crossroads, here’s who wins and who loses with Royals ballpark plan
KC groups ask Royals and Chiefs for millions in community perks as stadium vote nears
What about parking?
The Royals have said there will be plenty of space for fans, citing 40,000 parking spots in the “greater downtown area” within a 20-minute walk of the proposed ballpark, compared to 26,000 at Kauffman Stadium.
There are 21,000 existing, multiuse spots within a 10-minute walk of the new stadium, according to the Royals. The team said 9,000 spots is the required number of spots it would need for its 35,000-person stadium.
Read more:
What would a renovated Chiefs stadium look like?
The Kansas City Chiefs announced plans for an $800 million renovation to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, including a new video board, end zone suites and a covered fan zone where Kauffman Stadium currently stands. The football organization would pay for $300 million of the project.
Read more:
Kansas City Chiefs unveil renderings of renovated GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs lay out their vision of a renovated Arrowhead Stadium. Here’s the price tag
As Chiefs owner seeks taxpayer money, players turn it back on him: Time to pony up
What is a community benefits agreement, and what would it include?
For large projects that use public dollars — like stadiums and entertainment districts — it’s not uncommon for organizations like sports teams to sign a contract promising to add amenities or other measures to help local residents in exchange for the tax money they receive for their development.
The community benefits agreement for the Kansas City stadiums project has not been finalized or signed yet.
Local social justice groups are lobbying for things like expanded bus service, affordable housing and day care around the stadium, as well as a living wage for workers at the stadiums and contributions from the teams to support things like violence prevention and education initiatives.
Kansas City Public Schools is pushing to get a contribution from the teams to make up for the property tax revenue it would lose if the Royals build in the Crossroads.
Negotiations are ongoing, and some people invovled have cast doubt that an agreement will be signed in time for Election Day.
Read more:
The Royals pledged a robust stadium community benefits agreement. But where is it?
- KC groups ask Royals and Chiefs for millions in community perks as stadium vote nears
KC worker and tenant groups pushing Royals to promise jobs, housing in new stadium deal
Crossroads Royals stadium would take $33 million worth of properties off the tax rolls
What have the teams promised if the tax passes?
The Royals and Chiefs, along with county officials, signed a 22-page letter of intent in late January. The letter is not legally binding, but it gives a sense of what could be included in the leases that are yet to come.
Each year, according to the letter, the teams would split any extra money if the tax brings in more than the county needs to make its debt payment, which is for the money it’s still paying back for the last round of stadium renovations and the loan it would take out to build the new stadium and upgrade Arrowhead. They could only use the tax money for stadiums operations and management, not for players’ and coaches’ salaries. That’s the same as how it works now under the existing tax.
The letter also contained some promises from the teams that are not in the existing tax agreement. If the new tax passes, the teams said they would:
- Give up the $3.5 million they receive every year from the county’s parks property tax levy.
- Pay for their insurance on the stadiums, which the county pays for now.
- Cover the cost of demolishing Kauffman Stadium.
The Chiefs did not agree to keep the team’s headquarters and training facility in Jackson County, but they did say they’d give the county the first shot at making an offer if the team wants to move its training facility.
It’s still unclear if these promises will be included in the leases, which would be legally binding.
Read more:
Would taxpayers pay more with the new tax than they do now?
Both the existing stadiums tax and the proposed one are sales taxes at the same rate of 3/8th-cent on purchases made in Jackson County. However, the ballot question would establish that tax for 40 years — as opposed to the 7 years left on the current tax — which means the tax would go for 33 years longer than it would have otherwise. That adds up to more tax money over time.
Read more:
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Royals now face organized opposition to sales tax that would pay for downtown ballpark
What happens if the tax doesn’t pass?
It’s unclear exactly how things would shake out, but the Royals have said that they have no intention of playing at Kauffman Stadium after their lease expires in 2031. They have not said what they will do to meet their timetable of playing in a new ballpark by 2028 if the sales tax issue fails at the polls.
The Chiefs have never publicly suggested that they have any plans to leave Kansas City.
Read more:
What is the question voters will see on the ballot?
The ballot language describes taking away the current tax and putting in a new one.
Here is the exact wording of Jackson County question 1:
Shall the County of Jackson repeal its countywide capital improvements sales tax of three-eighths of one percent (3/8%) authorized by Section 67.700 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and impose as a parks sales tax of three eighths of one percent (3/8%) authorized by Section 644.032 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri for a period of 40 years, to provide funding for park improvements, consisting of (1) site preparation and clearance, developing, constructing, furnishing, improving, equipping, repairing, maintaining, and operating both Arrowhead Stadium and its surrounds, and a new baseball stadium and its surrounds, to retain the Kansas City Chiefs in Jackson County, Missouri and the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri pursuant to long term leases; and (2) refinancing debt obligations previously incurred to finance or refinance improvements to the Harry S Truman Sports Complex?
When will voters know more?
We’ll know more when the teams and the county sign leases with attached community benefits agreements and share those with the public, but we still don’t know exactly when that will be.
Last week, Jim Rowland, executive director of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, said the leases “are in the hands of attorneys.”
When will voters decide on the stadiums tax?
Election Day is April 2. Early voting starts March 19.
Read more:
Four dates to know for KC Royals Stadium election + when to register and how to vote
Will KC Royals get a new stadium? How, when and where to vote on sales tax to fund it
The Star’s Mike Hendricks, Sam McDowell, Allison Dikanovic, Blair Kerkhoff, Joseph Hernandez, David Hudnall and Pete Grathoff contributed to this report
This story was originally published March 19, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
