Chiefs, Royals Stadium Tax Rejected by Missouri Voters; Teams to Explore Options

The Kansas City Chiefs are building a modern-day dynasty and the Kansas City Royals have played in the city since 1969, but that didn't stop voters in Jackson County, Missouri, from rejecting a tax plan that would have provided additional revenue for stadium projects for both teams.

Dave Skretta of the Associated Press reported that more than 58 percent of voters rejected the plan Tuesday. Had it passed, the existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that helps pay for the Truman Sports Complex where both teams play would have been replaced with a similar tax.

The Royals want to leave Kauffman Stadium and move to a new ballpark, while the Chiefs want to renovate 52-year-old Arrowhead Stadium with an $800 million project.

"The tax—or, more accurately, the stadium plans—received significant public pushback almost from the start, when the teams struggled to put concrete plans before voters and were accused of lacking transparency throughout the process," Skretta wrote.

Plans for the Royals initially included two possible locations for a new ballpark district before those were scrapped for a potential downtown spot. The team also pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for the $2 billion-plus project, while the Chiefs committed $300 million of private money for their overhaul.

"We're deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals," Royals owner John Sherman said. "As someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group."

There is still time to come up with new plans or alterations, as the current lease for Truman Sports Complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt weighed in on the situation before the initiative was rejected by voters.

"We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium," he said. "The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we've outlined."

Skretta noted the Chiefs could look for additional private funding as well as even listening to competing public-money offers from other locations.

Yet the team has been in Kansas City since the 1963 season when it was in the AFL. It is also the dominant franchise in the modern-day game, as Patrick Mahomes and Co. have reached four of the last five Super Bowls and won three Lombardi Trophies during that span.

As long as Mahomes, 28, is under center, the Chiefs figure to be legitimate contenders for years to come.

Yet all that momentum did not convince voters to pass the initiative.

As for the Royals, they have been in Kauffman Stadium since 1973 and played there during their World Series championship seasons in 1985 and 2015. They have not enjoyed the same recent success as the Chiefs, though, and haven't been to the playoffs since they won that World Series more than eight seasons ago.