More Sources to help the Chiefs Stadium Situation

[ChiefsFanInIndy]

From the Kansas City Chiefs


Dear Concerned Fan:

The Chiefs were disappointed by the defeat by the Missouri House of Representatives of Senate Bill 269, commonly known as the Athletes and Entertainers Tax. The tax was an important first step in efforts to maintain and improve the stadiums in the Truman Sports Complex. Making professional athletes who benefit from the use of the facilities pay for their repair, maintenance and debt retirement made logical sense.

The defeat of the bill has now made it necessary that the team explore all other options to assure a major modernization of Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs, as in the past, are continuing to pursue other major events at Arrowhead in addition to NFL games, and the upkeep and improvement of the stadium are vital parts of the success of these efforts. But the team can not do it alone. The state of Missouri has offered no plan that would address this issue following the defeat of the Athletes and Entertainers Tax, and that loss comes on the heels of the rejection in four of five surrounding counties of the Bi-State initiative that would have provided funding to maintain the stadium.

This is where you can help. By your response to the many articles appearing on the team’s web site involving the stadium issue, you identify yourself as one who shares our concern for the future of Arrowhead and the Chiefs. Please direct your letters or telephone calls to the following legislators, Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri, and the Kansas City Star letters to the editor.

In making your thoughts known, encourage our governor to call a special legislative session to deal with the stadium issue now before it is too late. The Jackson County Sports Authority, owners of the stadiums, has told us that it will run out of money in the near future that will put the lease and team at risk.

When writing or speaking to legislators from Jackson County where the stadium is located, tell them you want their leadership in saving Arrowhead and that it is important to you, especially if you are one of their constituents. You don’t want them to wait. When writing the Star, tell the editor of your belief in the need for community leaders and elected representatives to address the stadium issue – not later but now.

We are reviewing every reasonable alternative with Jackson County and the Jackson County Sports Authority, and all other interested parties to assure a long-range solution as it impacts the viability of the Chiefs franchise. Any help you can give, therefore, is important. The list of addresses and phone numbers follows:

• Bryan Pratt
State Capitol Room 114-A
201 West Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573/751-8636 (tel)
573/526-8794 (fax)
Bryan.Pratt@house.mo.gov

• Brian Yates
State Capitol Room 206-B
201 West Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573/751-0907 (tel)
573/526-5813 (fax)
Brian.Yates@house.mo.gov

• Gary Dusenberg
State Capitol Room 235B B
201 West Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573/751-1487 (tel)
Gary.Dusenberg@house.mo.gov

• Will Krause
10512 E. 81st Terrace
816/353-5640
Will.Kraus@house.mo.gov

• Brad Lager
723 Windsor Avenue
Maryville, MO 64468
Brad.Lager@house.mo.gov

• The Honorable Matt Blunt
Office of the Governor
Room 216, State Capitol Building
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573/751-3222 (tel)
mogov@mail.mo.gov.

• Letter to the Editor
Kansas City Star
1729 Grand
Kansas City, MO 64108
816/234-4355 To leave call for Voices

[Garcia Bronco]

Son of Chiefs owner says teams could move out of KC if stadium leases broken
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If Jackson County can't come up with the money to make improvements to the sports stadiums at Truman Sports Complex, either the Chiefs or the Royals - or both - could be in some other city within a decade, the son of Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has told state and local officials.

Those statements by Clark Hunt, the Chiefs' new chairman, were the first by a top official of either professional team to raise the possibility of leaving town if the two stadiums aren't given major facelifts.

"It's got me real nervous," said Mike Smith, who leads the county's sports complex authority. "I would not take it as a threat, but as a message. He's just stating the facts, and the city needs to hear that."

Jackson County is responsible for maintenance of the stadiums under its lease with the teams. But the county, citing a lack of funds, has put off so many projects that it could default on those leases by the end of next year.

At a minimum, $36 million in stadium improvements is needed in the short term, with another $44 million in repairs needed by 2014, when the leases expire. And that's just a minimum.

The Chiefs are seeking not just the required patchwork repairs, but also an expansion of Arrowhead that would include bumping out the exterior walls and possibly add a hall of fame.

On Friday, the Chiefs pulled a Kansas City Super Bowl proposal that would have come to a vote next week at the NFL meetings in Washington. The proposal would have given Kansas City a Super Bowl sometime between 2012 and 2022, under the condition that the Chiefs have a high-quality, roofed stadium and that the city meets other requirements of a host city.

The Chiefs could resubmit the proposal later, but probably won't until renovation plans for Arrowhead Stadium are more clear.

Meanwhile, Royals owner Dan Glass reiterated this week that his team is not planning to leave, even if Jackson County breaks the lease.

"We're not going anywhere," he said.

A decision by the Legislature this year to not provide any more money for stadium improvements has prompted county and sports officials to meet with the teams to plan a tax election for sometime this year in Jackson County.

The size, scope and timetable of an election have not been determined.

State lawmakers were reluctant to commit more money for stadium improvements at a time when the state is cutting services for low-income residents. Many legislators considered a bill to funnel tax money from out-of-state athletes back into the stadiums a bailout of Jackson County.

Adding to the concerns local officials is the feeling that Clark Hunt isn't as committed as his father to Kansas City.

"What it tells us is the teams have other options," said Dan Tarwater, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature. "I truly believe they don't want to move, but with all the options out there, they could go to any city in many states across the country."

[TEX]

Son of Chiefs owner says teams could move out of KC if stadium leases broken
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If Jackson County can't come up with the money to make improvements to the sports stadiums at Truman Sports Complex, either the Chiefs or the Royals - or both - could be in some other city within a decade, the son of Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has told state and local officials.

Those statements by Clark Hunt, the Chiefs' new chairman, were the first by a top official of either professional team to raise the possibility of leaving town if the two stadiums aren't given major facelifts.

"It's got me real nervous," said Mike Smith, who leads the county's sports complex authority. "I would not take it as a threat, but as a message. He's just stating the facts, and the city needs to hear that."

Jackson County is responsible for maintenance of the stadiums under its lease with the teams. But the county, citing a lack of funds, has put off so many projects that it could default on those leases by the end of next year.

At a minimum, $36 million in stadium improvements is needed in the short term, with another $44 million in repairs needed by 2014, when the leases expire. And that's just a minimum.

The Chiefs are seeking not just the required patchwork repairs, but also an expansion of Arrowhead that would include bumping out the exterior walls and possibly add a hall of fame.

On Friday, the Chiefs pulled a Kansas City Super Bowl proposal that would have come to a vote next week at the NFL meetings in Washington. The proposal would have given Kansas City a Super Bowl sometime between 2012 and 2022, under the condition that the Chiefs have a high-quality, roofed stadium and that the city meets other requirements of a host city.

The Chiefs could resubmit the proposal later, but probably won't until renovation plans for Arrowhead Stadium are more clear.

Meanwhile, Royals owner Dan Glass reiterated this week that his team is not planning to leave, even if Jackson County breaks the lease.

"We're not going anywhere," he said.

A decision by the Legislature this year to not provide any more money for stadium improvements has prompted county and sports officials to meet with the teams to plan a tax election for sometime this year in Jackson County.

The size, scope and timetable of an election have not been determined.

State lawmakers were reluctant to commit more money for stadium improvements at a time when the state is cutting services for low-income residents. Many legislators considered a bill to funnel tax money from out-of-state athletes back into the stadiums a bailout of Jackson County.

Adding to the concerns local officials is the feeling that Clark Hunt isn't as committed as his father to Kansas City.

"What it tells us is the teams have other options," said Dan Tarwater, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature. "I truly believe they don't want to move, but with all the options out there, they could go to any city in many states across the country."

You're late with this.

[redbrian]

What needs to happen and happen fast is for Jackson Co. to admit that it has bit off way more than it can chew.

Clay county and Platte county are the two fastest growing sectors in Kansas City.

Jackson Co. needs to disband the Jackson Co. Sports Authority and form a new group including both Clay and Platte.

The carrot for the Northland would be to pursue a Soccer park located in Riverside MO..

This would be a win/win proposition for all.

[Garcia Bronco]

I hope the chiefs don't move...I think it would suck

[BigChiefFan]

Matt Blunt just got a piece of my mind.

[Skip Towne]

What needs to happen and happen fast is for Jackson Co. to admit that it has bit off way more than it can chew.

Clay county and Platte county are the two fastest growing sectors in Kansas City.

Jackson Co. needs to disband the Jackson Co. Sports Authority and form a new group including both Clay and Platte.

The carrot for the Northland would be to pursue a Soccer park located in Riverside MO..

This would be a win/win proposition for all.
Yeah, boy, soccer to the rescue!!