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The Chiefs have called Kansas City home since 1963 (back when they still belonged to the AFL), but the team’s president hinted the franchise could look into relocating if taxpayers aren’t willing to help foot the bill for a new stadium.
The Kansas City Chiefs played their first game at Arrowhead Stadium when the venue opened at the start of the 1972 campaign, and as things currently stand, the Bears and the Packers are the only teams in the NFL who play at an older venue.
Based on the report card the Chiefs received from the NFLPA at the end of the most recent season, the age of the facility is one of the reasons the Chiefs received some of the lowest grades in the league, and owner Clark Hunt seems to be dragging his feet when it comes to making any major renovations.
Now, we have some insight into why that might be the case courtesy of Chiefs president Mark Donovan.
Donovan recently chatted with KSHB about a ballot measure Jackson County residents will get the chance to vote on when April 2nd rolls around, which concerns a 3/8-cent sales tax that’s currently set to expire in 2031; it can either be repealed or given a 40-year extension that will end in 2064.
The outlet reports the extension would generate $2 billion in taxpayer revenue over the course of four decades, with the Chiefs using some of those proceeds to renovate Arrowhead (which Donovan says would include increased parking and an improved rideshare program) and the Royals harnessing them to subsidize a new stadium.
It’s kind of hard to imagine the Chiefs (who are currently valued at $4.3 billion—$2 billion more than they were prior to the start of the current dynasty) would leave Kansas City over the matter, but Donovan made it clear they haven’t ruled out the possibility if voters decline to improve the extension, saying:
“We would just have to look at all our options. I think they would have to include leaving Kansas City. But our goal here is, we want to stay here. And we’re willing to accept a deal for the county to actually stay here.”
Sports franchises that attempt to secure taxpayer funds for stadium improvements like to position them as an investment that will help strengthen the local economy, although it’s worth noting most studies into that particular matter have found that isn’t actually the case.
At first glance, this seems like a pretty empty threat, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.