Missouri House proposes cutting funding for Chiefs, but it would also hit Royals
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Plan redirects $2M to Independence Fire Dept. coordination.
- Cut would leave Chiefs and Royals with $500K each instead of $1.5M.
- Measure needs Senate, governor OK; state contributions are discretionary.
The Missouri House’s proposed budget strips $2 million from the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority after the Kansas City Chiefs announced they’ll move across state lines.
The state historically provided $3 million to the Sports Authority for maintenance of Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. Rep. Mike Steinmeyer, a Sugar Creek Republican, said the reallocation would “rightsize” spending in light of the Chiefs’ planned departure.
“With the Chiefs planning to leave the state by 2031, it is appropriate that our funding reflects that reality,” Steinmeyer said.
The $2 million would be redirected to the Independence Fire Department for a program to coordinate responses between firefighters, mental health professionals and social workers.
But a reduction in payment would not just hit the Chiefs. The leases between the Sports Authority, the Chiefs and the Royals split the money from the state evenly between the teams’ maintenance funds. Stripping away $2 million in funding would mean both teams receive $500,000 from the state, rather than $1.5 million.
Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota declined to comment on the proposed measure.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, in a statement, said the Chiefs will continue to be regional partners with the city and state. Lucas said the team will continue to attract visitors to institutions in Missouri, and criticized the proposed cut.
“Cutting funds to spite a still-Missouri-based franchise, and shortchanging another, hurts Missouri employees, Missouri contractors, and Missouri residents,” Lucas said. “Despite the disappointment shared by many in Chiefs Kingdom in Missouri, Kansas, and beyond with the thought of losing Arrowhead Stadium in five years, legislative efforts to settle scores only harm our tax base in the short and long term.”
The cut is proposed as the Royals are in ongoing negotiations regarding their future home. On Monday, Royals owner John Sherman said the team is considering multiple locations, including downtown Kansas City, North Kansas City and in Kansas.
The amended budget would still need to make it through the Senate and be signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe before funding is pulled.
The statute allowing the state to contribute money to a sports complex is discretionary, so lawmakers could pull funding at will. Kansas City’s contribution of $2 million is also subject to annual appropriations.
County and city also contribute
Jackson County, on the other hand, is obligated to fund $3.5 million from its Park Fund. Voters approved a countywide ⅜ cent sales tax in 2006 to pay down debt service on bonds to fund improvements at the stadiums, but voted down a measure in 2024 to renew the tax to construct a new Royals stadium and renovate Arrowhead.
The sales tax currently generates over $50 million per year. A 2023 audit of the Jackson County Sports Complex found that the teams contributed $55.8 million in taxes that year.
