One of the fundamental realities in the realm of stadium financing is that securing public funds without a public vote is far easier. When the decision to dip into taxpayer funds reaches the ballot, voters often balk at the prospect of footing the bill.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals are aiming to alter this narrative.
In Jackson County, Missouri, a push to extend a sales tax for financing the stadiums of both teams will come to a head in a special election on April 2. And the local franchises are working to sway public opinion.
While the Royals seek a new stadium, the Chiefs aim to refurbish Arrowhead. The proposed extension of the 3/8th of a cent sales tax would yield $2 billion for both endeavors.
Initially, County Executive Frank White vetoed the special election. However, the Jackson County legislature overturned the veto by a 7-2 margin, paving the way for the public vote.
Earlier this week, the Chiefs took to social media with a commercial urging voters to back the measure. The ad features appeals from tight end Travis Kelce, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and coach Andy Reid.
The commercial’s message is clear: “We need you to vote ‘yes’ on question one. We’ve all made Kansas City a major league city. Let’s keep it that way. There’s no better place in the world to play than Arrowhead Stadium. Let’s keep it that way. . . . We need you guys. We need you. Let’s keep this rolling.”
Will this effort prove successful? And what are the implications if it falls short?
“We’ve all made Kansas City a major-league city. Let’s keep it that way.” This statement can be interpreted in various ways.
The reality is, in a league populated by individuals who have amassed vast fortunes through capitalism, there’s often no reluctance to embrace selective socialism when it comes to funding stadium projects.
This is a primary reason why such ballot initiatives frequently meet resistance. Why should the average citizen, disinterested in baseball or football, support giving free money to a multi-billion-dollar business capable of financing its own stadium ventures?
The outcome of this endeavor remains to be seen. If any NFL team can succeed in such a venture, it’s the current iteration of the Kansas City Chiefs. If they cannot, it may signal that no other team should attempt it.
