Kansas is attempting to entice the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to leave Missouri. In response to a recent rejection of a sales tax extension by Jackson County voters in Missouri, Governor Laura Kelly signed a law that was passed by the state legislature. The Kansas City metropolitan area is divided between the two states, with the majority of the population residing in Missouri.
Under the new legislation, Kansas would cover 70% of the costs for new stadiums, leaving the teams responsible for the remaining 30%. Both the Chiefs and Royals have leases through 2030, potentially allowing them to relocate to the Kansas side in 2031. However, the legislation does not explicitly name the teams, referring to NFL and MLB teams in “any state adjacent to Kansas.”
The opportunity for Kansas arose when Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension to fund stadium renovations. Some Kansas legislators believe that this rejection was used as leverage by Missouri officials to secure deals in other areas. Despite this uncertainty, many in the metro area prefer that