Mayor in Kansas Hints at Plan to Attract the Royals and Chiefs to Relocate

Currently, Kansas City in Missouri is the home of two popular sports teams, the famous Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Chiefs, the professional American football team that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

Although the two teams are based in Missouri’s Kansas City, a newly endorsed plan by the mayor of neighboring Kansas City in Kansas seeks to lure the teams to move their home. The plan reportedly received support from Tyrone Garner, the Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas.

The announcement comes after the two popular teams hit a snag in their home state. The popular MLB franchise was after securing funding for a new stadium, while the Chiefs sought to secure funds for a redevelopment of their home, Arrowhead Stadium. The funding would have been secured under a sales tax proposal announced earlier this year.

However, the effort didn’t progress as it received a rejection from Jackson County residents. Neighboring Kansas City in Kansas saw the lucrative opportunity to lure the two teams and hinted at the possibility of offering funding from STAR bonds and sports betting revenue. The topic will be up for debate at a special legislative session on June 18.

Garner, who was quoted by KSHB, said on the topic: “We want to keep two good organizations right here in the Kansas City metropolitan area.” Moreover, the Mayor explained: “We want those teams to know that it may not have worked out on the Missouri side, so we’d like to give you options on the Kansas side.”

The Move Isn’t a Border War

Garner explained that he wanted the Chiefs and Royals to know that Wyandotte County, the county where Kansas City is located, is “open for business.” The Mayor acknowledged the leadership position of each of the teams, pointing out that their potential relocation may boost the economy and development of the city. Still, Garner said that this move should not be viewed as a “border war.” He explained: “I don’t think that we’re in competition because we’re not.”

The relocation of sports franchises isn’t an unheard-of practice. Sports teams may consider such moves as a way to access economic benefits. Yet, transfers do pose a risk for the existing fan base, especially in sports such as football and baseball, among others.

In March, Fanatics confirmed the launch of its sportsbook in Kansas. The launch represented the seventeenth state for the company which gained access to a number of important markets following the acquisition of the US-facing assets of PointsBet.