By Ben McCarthy
The debate held inside the Red Bridge Library on March 11th featured former Mayor Sly James and former City Councilwoman Becky Nace arguing the merits of proposed ⅜ cent sales tax on the April 2nd ballot to help fund the stadiums of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
James, working with the campaign (The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County) to pass the tax (the current one voted on in 2006 is set to expire in 2031) that will collect $2 billion over 40 years, began the evening by calling the issues before Jackson County Taxpayers “a very important tax.”
Two hours later, during closing statements, a more animated James urged Kansas Citians not to “roll the dice” by voting no — promising that this was most likely the best (and perhaps last) chance to ensure that the Royals and Chiefs stay in Jackson County for decades to come.
“We’re the second smallest market with two major league sports teams,” James said.
“The only way that baseball survives in this city is by (helping the owners) finding new revenues. This is not New York where (the Yankees) get a billion dollar a year radio and television contract.”
James was referring to new revenue generating amenities a new downtown stadium could provide new Royals majority owner John Sherman.
Approval of the measure would result in the demolition of Kauffman Stadium (paid for by the Royals, according to James and other campaign representatives), and the construction of a new 35,000 seat stadium down in the Crossroads District. The Chiefs would use their portion of the money ($300 million) to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead, and expand other “fan and tailgating experiences” where Kauffman Stadium stands.
James closed with hints that Nashville and other markets are snooping around and looking to pilfer a major league baseball team. He also said it was possible for the Chiefs to leave Jackson County for somewhere as close as Wyandotte County, and set up shop near the Kansas Speedway and Children’s Mercy Park (home for Sporting KC).
Nace refuted those claims. The former city Councilwoman played an integral role in the 2006 campaign to help renovate the Truman Sports Complex. Her organization, Committee Against New Royals Stadium Taxes, hopes to stop the measure from passing in April, but she admits they simply do not have the resources to counter the spending coming from the Chiefs and Royals.
“They’ve already committed $1 million to advertise and convince the public that they will leave if they don’t vote ‘Yes’ next month, “ Nace said. “We can’t afford commercials, but we will go out and try to reach people individually to show them what a waste of taxpayer dollars this is.”
After opening remarks, the audience peppered James with a litany of questions, ranging from parking, to destruction of the Crossroads district. The lack of firm details and transparency in the process dominated audience remarks. Despite still having no lease agreement or community benefits agreement in place, James assured them that these details were being worked out and would be available soon.
Much of the mostly skeptical crowd exited the event seemingly resigned and frustrated that the vote could (and would) pass simply on the threat of the teams leaving town.
Helen Faubion, who can recall going to Kansas City A’s games back in the 60’s with her dad, admitted that James’s presentation (in particular his closing remarks about the teams fleeing to bigger markets) did sway her from a “No” vote to likely for the measure.
“I am inclined to vote ‘Yes,’ now, but not be happy about it,” Faubion said. “I wasn’t expecting him to issue that ‘do or die’ warning, but I heard it loud and clear – he sure threatened everyone in the room.”
Other attendees echoed the feeling of a naked threat to lose the teams to a larger market as the only statement Monday that had them reconsidering their vote in April. Like Faubion, they still are puzzled as to why the process has been so rushed.
Nace, who was helping the stadium renovation efforts pass in 2006, says this and the lack of transparency are what drove her to All Taxed Out. After the event, she spoke with the Telegraph and recalled those efforts 18 years ago, and a moment she had with Chiefs and Royals ownership that illuminated her view of what was happening.
“I was on a private plane with Royals and Chiefs ownership – it was David Glass and Clark Hunt, because Lamar’s health was failing,” Nace said. “We were on a private plane going to Jefferson City and I just asked Clark if they really had intentions of moving.”
“Clark said ‘We have no desire to move, even to Kansas” and David Glass chimed in and said ‘Same’.”
Nace frames what is taking place as an effort by the new Royals ownership to use the new downtown baseball stadium as an anchor for a potential real estate development. Nace, a 13-year Royals season ticket holder, says Kauffman is a terrific stadium for the Royals, 15 years removed from the completed renovations, and voters would regret having it torn down while they still owe an excess of $170 million on those renovation costs.
In 2006, the “Save our Stadiums” campaign reported spending $1.5 million. The opposition reported only $501 in expenditures. That vote passed with 53% of the electorate voting yes to fund the renovation costs (they also narrowly voted down an additional measure to pay for rolling roofs at the Truman Sports Complex). Also factoring into the vote this time is the reality that several downtown businesses in the Crossroads district will be destroyed to make way for the new stadium.
The meeting brought out business owners of the Crossroads district whose locations will be demolished to make way for the new downtown stadium. South KC resident Christopher Hicks owns Supply Truck, a tattoo shop at 1529 Grand, and one of 33 businesses that would be eliminated to make way for the new stadium development (another 35-40 businesses are adjacent to the proposed construction site and have expressed existential concerns for their future ability to operate). Hicks heard the news of the Royals planned construction site like everyone else did.
“It was my birthday – turning 40 and we had been out to eat,” Hicks said. “We’ve been at this location for two years and suddenly you’re hearing about ‘imminent domain,’ so my business partners and I have been spending the last month just trying to get information.”
Hicks and his partners have had one conversation with their landlord who acknowledged that he would be selling the building. They, like other Crossroads businesses owners at the meeting, have been in the dark otherwise. While other Crossroad business owners were more adamant in their opposition and outwardly disgusted by the turn of events, Hicks said he was trying to look at the situation as diplomatically as possible, while acknowledging the difficulty in being caught in the stadium crossfire.
James told Hicks and others that the Royals would provide assistance to Crossroads tenants affected, and mentioned leasing costs, build costs of new business locations, and other expenses being covered. Like the leasing agreement, nothing is in writing yet.
“My partners and I are looking at other options, but we know we would be losing a customer base we’ve developed (in the Crossroads),” Hicks said. “Would my business be able to survive elsewhere in town? Hopefully. Do I wanna go? No.”
Other Crossroads businesses in attendance were far less diplomatic. Jill Cockson, owner of Chartrueuse Salon and Swordfish Tom’s, both bars, told the Telegraph she was eager to meet with Royals representatives this week following the event to finally hear what they have planned. She had asked James during the event: “What is it about destroying up to 60 local businesses – that is, in your words, ‘circumstantial;?” She, like many others, in attendance was less than pleased with what the former mayor had to offer.
“We are all still in shock,” Cockson said. “There’s nothing ethical about what’s taking place and it feels like we’ve just been told to get out of the way and make way for more billionaire’s new toys.”
“And now we have to pay for them, too.”