Taylor Swift has officially been dragged into the Kansas City Chiefs' stadium drama
Will the Chiefs be in Kansas City, Missouri forever? It doesn't seem that way with all the current stadium drama occurring. And now Taylor Swift has been dragged into it. So let's get into how it all started. Missouri failed to extend a sales tax that has kept the Chiefs and Royals in the state. […]
Will the Chiefs be in Kansas City, Missouri forever?
It doesn't seem that way with all the current stadium drama occurring. And now Taylor Swift has been dragged into it. So let's get into how it all started.
Missouri failed to extend a sales tax that has kept the Chiefs and Royals in the state. The Kansas Legislature has now passed a bill that would allow the state to use STAR bonds (basically borrowing against future tax dollars) to fund the construction of new stadiums for the Chiefs and/or Royals or other sports teams.
And with that, the Chiefs' deal at the Truman Sports Complex to play in Arrowhead Stadium runs through 2031. So after that, they are free to leave. And that means they could potentially head to Kansas.
FOX4KC's Dave D'Marko reports that a Senator from Wyandotte County spoke to the Kansas Senate about the perks of having the Chiefs relocated to their state. And one of the key reasons: Taylor Swift.
He explained how if they were to build a new domed stadium in Kansas for the Chiefs, it would benefit Swift, who could host numerous concerts there at all times of the year and regardless of the weather.
Swifties would LOVE that.
Plus, there is no denying that Swift has brought in a lot of new revenue for the Chiefs and the NFL this past season due to increased presence at games. We can all thank Travis Kelce for that one.
And with that, a senator from Saline County mentioned that 5-6 sites are being considered to house the Chiefs and Royals if they decide to make the move.
What are STAR bonds?
If you're unfamiliar with STAR bonds, here is a description from the Kansas Commerce Department:
Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds are a financing tool that allows Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.
In the case of the Chiefs, the state of Kansas using STAR bonds to fund a new stadium would be the equivalent of borrowing against future sales tax revenue.
Question 1 in Jackson County
On the April 2 ballot in Jackson County, Question 1 was very important for the Chiefs future in Missouri. By voting yes, it would extend a stadium sales tax to go toward building a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals and renovating Arrowhead Stadium.
But in the end, the Chiefs lost the vote with the majority of people voting No. (30,791 for No, and 22,399 for Yes).
Renderings for a new stadium in Kansas
For photos of what a new stadium could look like, click here.
