Olathe officials to hold public hearing, vote on tax dollars for Chiefs project
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- Olathe must hold a public hearing and vote on pledge of STAR bond sales tax.
- State lawmakers approved incentives to fund $3 billion stadium and Olathe HQ.
- STAR bonds will repay developers with future sales tax revenue over 30 years.
In the next two months, Olathe officials will have to hold a public hearing and vote on sending local tax dollars toward the new Kansas City Chiefs facilities to be built as the team jumps across the state line to Kansas.
That will follow Monday’s announcement by state officials and the Chiefs, and the approval by top lawmakers of an incentive package that’s to help build a $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County and a training facility and headquarters in Olathe.
In order to move forward with the proposed plans, the Olathe City Council has to conduct a public hearing, vote and adopt an ordinance that would pledge all new incremental general sales tax generated within the Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR bonds program area, to the project.
Dates for the City Council’s public hearing had not been set as of Dec. 24.
The Kansas Department of Commerce released a map of the proposed STAR bonds program area that includes large areas of both Wyandotte and Johnson counties, but the specific location of the Olathe facilities and the stadium in Wyandotte County have not been confirmed by officials.
Working in secret
The announcement by Kansas officials and the Chiefs on Monday unveiled years of work that was previously held under wraps.
On Tuesday, Olathe Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim McKee said the Chamber has been working for two years under a nondisclosure agreement to bring the Chiefs to Olathe. He said the Chamber has been working in partnership with the City of Olathe and the Olathe School District.
“We’ve been pursuing this for almost two years now, we’ve just been under an NDA (nondisclosure agreement) so we couldn’t disclose what we’re working on, and we are really excited to bring this to fruition,” Olathe Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim McKee said. “There are so many different aspects on how this might be beneficial to our community.
“I’m really excited we could keep the Chiefs here in the Kansas City region,” he said. “It wasn’t just an Olathe or KCK reason, it was keeping them here.”
The city of Olathe declined to comment further on negotiations with the Chiefs.
STAR Bonds for Chiefs in Olathe
STAR Bonds are designed to fund regional attractions by paying back developers with future sales tax revenue generated by tourists. The legislation authorizes Kansas to potentially issue STAR bonds to pay for up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and would be repaid over 30 years.
According to promotional materials provided by the Kansas Department of Commerce, 60% of new stadium costs will be funded with future sales tax revenue generated by the surrounding development. The remaining 40% will be financed privately.
The new team headquarters and a state-of-the art practice facility will feature a mixed-use development surrounding the site that will feature entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel and residential properties, hoping to mirror similar projects in Dallas and Minnesota, Olathe Chamber CEO McKee said.
“I visited Minnesota about a year ago during this pursuit and that’s really what they want to model after,” he said.
In Minnesota, developers alongside the Minnesota Vikings developed Vikings Lakes — a 200-acre mixed-use site near the NFL team’s training facility that features a community trail, hotel and conference center, sports medicine research institute, health care facilities, commercial offices, apartments and retail.
“This is just the beginning,” McKee said. “More and more will come out in the next 30 to 60 days.”
The Chiefs’ agreement with Kansas calls for games to be hosted at the new stadium beginning with the 2031 season. The Chiefs will pay $7 million in annual rent and contribute $3 million through unspecified “annual community benefit,” according to the official fact sheet.
How Olathe could benefit
Bringing the training facility and headquarters to Olathe is not only exciting for the business community, but for the schools as well, McKee said.
“There are partnerships that could be created with the Chiefs. One of those partners is our school district, and how the Chiefs currently work with kids promoting health and wellness, I think that will continue in that regard,” he said.
Expanding sports medicine programs and supporting sports teams are a few opportunities that could grow with the NFL team building a home in the community, McKee added.
Olathe Public Schools Superintendent Brent Yeager said in a written statement that the Chiefs coming to town is an exciting opportunity and a “moment of pride” for students, families, staff and residents.
“We recognize the potential this move brings not only in terms of economic growth and community visibility, but also in the possibilities for meaningful partnerships that support student learning and community engagement,” Yeager said.
Olathe residents respond
Johnson County Chiefs fans seem to be celebrating the news about their NFL team coming to town.
“I think it will just continue to build this area,” Olathe resident Sadie Rawson said. “I feel kind of sad because Arrowhead is so nostalgic, but I’ll be proud to have the Chiefs call Kansas home.”
Olathe resident and real estate agent Chris Dowell said that the Chiefs coming to town could bring more businesses and more events happening in the city.
“I think this is going to be an experience,” he said. “I’m excited about a lot of things the practice facilities bring to the community. I’ve seen what they’ve done in Minnesota and in Dallas, I’m excited about what could come to Olathe.”
“People are going to go there and not just go to the facilities, but have a great time … Plus it’s going to be in our backyard, that’s another plus.”
This story was originally published December 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM.
