County Legislature considers April election for stadium question

By Max Goodwin

Last month Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca IV held a town hall about the future of the Royals and Chiefs at the Fowling Warehouse in South Kansas City, warning of a risk that both teams may move outside of Jackson County after the current lease agreement ends in 2031.

The Royals want a new stadium in or near downtown Kansas City after 2031. They narrowed their options to two potential sites, with one of them in North Kansas City, moving the team out of Jackson County. 

The Royals and Chiefs have been the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex tenants for more than 50 years. Jackson County voters approved general obligation bonds of $43 million in 1967 to fund the construction of Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums. 

In 2006, Jackson County approved a three-eighths of one percent sales tax to improve the stadiums and maintain them for 25 years. Both teams were guaranteed the same amount in the deal for stadium improvements.

“It’s rare that you see a city of our size have two sports teams,” Abarca said. “We have both. And it’s because of the early investments we’ve cultivated and maintained. What we have now is the situation may fundamentally change.”

Legislators have until January 24, when the April special election deadline is. The Royals still haven’t announced a decision on their preferred location and instead added a third potential site in downtown. County Executive Frank White Jr. has urged patience as the county negotiates with teams on an agreement that could last as long as 40 years. 

“I respect the teams’ deadline for the April ballot question and as committed partners, we are working to meet it,” White said. “However, my responsibility is to protect taxpayer dollars and secure an equitable deal that benefits our community. I am confident we will finalize such an agreement, but until then, I cannot support any ballot issue.”

As taxpayers listened to Abarca at the first town hall for the event, some felt that the county should be patient to ensure the details favored the taxpayers.

“I think an April, or really even a 2024 ballot question is irresponsible,” said Ryan Rosenblatt, a Kansas City resident who has closely followed the process. Rosenblatt has worked in the past as an editor at Fox Sports and is well-versed in how stadium funding works. 

“The legislator (Abarca) said that he wants to negotiate the best deal possible, put it to the citizens, and let us make our decision. I don’t think that’s really possible to do next year because he’s only talking about a community benefits agreement or a lease. They still have to figure out not just a site but what that site is going to look like. What other businesses are impacted? What other infrastructure has to go in.”

Two days after the town hall, the Jackson County Legislature added an ordinance to its agenda for the following week. It would set a special election on April 2 with a ballot question of a three-eighths percent sales tax to retain the Royals and Chiefs in Jackson County. The Royals would move to a new site, and the Chiefs would maintain the Truman Sports Complex.

The legislature voted 6-3 to hold the ordinance. The next scheduled meeting of the Jackson County Legislature is January 8, when the legislature will likely consider the ordinance again.

Abarca said the timeline is a challenge. He said the county has yet to respond when the Royals have given them proposals. There may be disagreement on who is to blame. Abarca said he would own some of it, but the county has stalled and done nothing in negotiations from his perspective.

“We have to get to work and say this is what we’re going to do,” Abarca said. “And if not, we, the county, should say we’re not doing this. But that may have a negative impact on what happens to our teams because they do have their own calendar that they too adjust based upon what they want to see done because ultimately we’re dealing with private businesses.”

Since campaigning for his current seat on the legislature more than a year ago, when the Royals potential move was already evident, Abarca has maintained consistency on the issue. In an interview as a candidate for the legislature last year, Abarca said he wanted to see the Royals and Chiefs remain in Jackson County.

“How we get there is going to be up to the voters,” Abarca said on a summer day, sitting on the tailgate of his truck after knocking on doors in the South Kansas City area. “I will commit to putting the decision about Royals stadium moving on the ballot so voters can choose if they want their tax dollars to go to that.”