If the Chiefs and Royals want new stadiums, Kansas City taxpayers need the truth — now

Kansas City sports fans, and taxpayers, must now be thoroughly confused about the intentions of the Royals and Chiefs concerning new stadiums in the region, or rebuilt old ones.

This confusion is dangerous and counterproductive. It’s reminiscent of the secret talks surrounding the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport — talks that nearly scuttled the project before it started.

It needs to stop. The teams must be transparent, soon, about their stadium goals, or voters will eventually reject public financing of new facilities, and they’ll be right to do so.

The Chiefs dropped the latest bewildering news Tuesday, when team president Mark Donovan revealed discussions with Kansas interests about building new football facilities there. The team likes its current stadium, apparently, but is listening to offers on the other side of the state line.

County officials said the idea was premature. “The Chiefs and the Royals are under contract until at least (January) 2031,” said a statement from Jackson County Executive Frank White. “The county looks forward to working with all involved to ensure both teams remain in Jackson County for decades to come.”

To be clear: There have been low-level talks about building a professional football stadium in Kansas for more than 20 years. It comes up whenever the teams’ presence at the Truman Sports Complex is undergoing review.

But we can’t address the Chiefs’ murky discussions in isolation. They come amid growing chatter that the Royals’ barely-disguised enthusiasm for a downtown stadium will find its way to a local ballot box sooner, rather than later.

Remember: Whatever the Royals get, the Chiefs will want.

A few weeks ago we were told by a well-placed source that the Royals wanted an election this November on partial public financing of a downtown ballpark. The idea: Vote in 2022, design in 2023, build in 2024 and 2025, and play downtown in 2026.

The first announcements, we were told, might come in April. Any thought of a bistate financing mechanism had been set aside — this would be a Jackson County deal.

Pushback was immediate. “The Royals have not asked the county administration to hold a vote on a downtown stadium,” spokeswoman Marshanna Smith said in an email on March 25. Others connected with the stadiums said they had heard the talk, but discounted it.

“The Royals have not asked for a vote,” said Royals’ Communications Vice President Sam Mellinger in an email Tuesday. “As we’ve said publicly before, we continue to explore options.”

Last week, Mayor Quinton Lucas said he met with Royals officials in mid-March to discuss stadium issues. “There’s a lot more chat to be had,” the mayor said, without confirming any details of the talks.

It should not be a surprise, against this backdrop, that the Chiefs are looking at their options, too.

Voters do not want or need stadium drawings (although they do exist) or to-the-penny cost calculations, at least not yet. But they need and deserve definitive statements from both teams about their goals, and a promise to avoid any vote on the issue this year or next.

The teams should provide a reasonable timetable for decision-making. Tell voters whether they want new stadiums (in Missouri or Kansas) by the end of 2022. Set a goal of renegotiated lease agreements by the end of 2023, with a vote on taxpayer support (if needed) in 2024.

The teams must be transparent about cost. The NFL’s Buffalo Bills have announced plans for a new stadium that will cost $1.4 billion, including $850 million from the state and county. That’s a lot of public cash. If either the Royals or Chiefs — or both — want similar public support, they should start making that argument now.

They should state plainly whether they seek a bistate solution, or a one-county vote. And they should explain why they need and deserve taxpayer help.

The drip-drip-drip of vague claims and generalities frustrates fans and taxpayers alike. The Royals are moving downtown Monday; the Chiefs are moving to Kansas Tuesday; no, they’re staying put. That isn’t helpful.

We’ll keep an open mind about stadium funding, and we think voters will too. But the teams need to treat voters with respect, and transparency. That process should start today.

This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 3:43 PM.