Kansas City, Missouri. The border war to attract Kansas City’s two major sports franchises is taking on a mirror image of itself.
Missouri lawmakers are excited about a proposal that would incentivize major teams to build stadiums in the Show-Me State. The money behind the Missouri proposal appears to be similar to the approach Kansas is taking in hopes of attracting the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
Missouri Senate Bill 822, also known as the Missouri Entertainment Facility Capital Assistant Program, has bipartisan support. It stems from a meeting in Jefferson City last week and serves as a response to Kansas legislators’ aggressive approach. This strategy makes use of STAR bond funds to entice National League Football and Major League Baseball franchises to relocate across state lines.
This legislation, sponsored by Missouri State Senator Barbara Washington, calls for an equal 33% of stadium funding to come from the state, public sources, and city and county budgets.
Missouri State Representative Mark Sharp co-sponsors the bill. He stated that funding will come from the state treasury, with funds appropriated by the general assembly directed through the treasury.
“The bill was filed on Thursday. It was read a second time today. “It appears to me that this bill is receiving attention at the state level, as it should, and we can get these bills referred in the coming weeks,” Rep. Sharp said on Friday.
Sean Smith, Jackson County’s Sixth District Legislator, is encouraged by this plan. Smith understands that the Royals would rather not go back to the polls after losing last April. Smith also appreciates the protection this would offer Missouri business owners.
“When we see our border states attempting to take our businesses, it is in our best interest to say, ‘No, and we’ll kick your buttocks. If you try to steal our corporations, we’ll kick your buttocks.’ “We’re going to give them something better to keep them here,” Smith explained.
Kansas lawmakers expected a response from Missouri. Kansas State Rep. Sean Tarwater is not involved in the negotiations, but he sees similarities between the Missouri plan and the STAR bonds that Kansas will use.
“If you’re looking at a three- or four-billion-dollar stadium, you’ll need to hold a local vote, which will take some time. Also, this bill does not go into effect until August 2025, so we could have everything wrapped up by then,” Tarwater explained.
Smith likes how the Missouri proposal protects taxpayers from higher property tax expenses. Missouri lawmakers have until May 17 to pass this legislation.
