It may sound like a hollow threat, but it’s a threat nevertheless. If the Chiefs fail to secure an extension of the sales tax needed for Arrowhead Stadium’s renovation, they could relocate from Kansas City. The Royals could also be affected.
During a recent flurry of free-agency activity, Chiefs president Mark Donovan made the potential consequences clear. “It’s really simple,” Donovan emphasized to Kevin Holmes of KSHB.com. “These are not new taxes, and you keep both teams.”
To rally support for the tax, the Chiefs have already taken action, involving players and coach Andy Reid in a video campaign. However, if the April 2 vote doesn’t go their way, Donovan indicated that the team would have to explore all options.
“I know that for us, the Chiefs, we’d have to look at all of our options,” Donovan stated when asked if leaving Kansas City was on the table. “I think they’d have to include leaving Kansas City, but our goal here is that we want to stay here,” he added.
It’s a stark admission, but it’s a tactic aimed at conveying the gravity of the situation to voters. Losing the Chiefs, especially during the Patrick Mahomes era, is a genuine possibility – not mere speculation or fiction. As the team’s president openly acknowledged, the stakes are high.
In essence, it’s a subtle message to Kansas City: Your football team is valuable, but its future hangs in the balance.
