KC Star: Chiefs remain committed to KC area

|Zach| · 03:21 PM

Arrowhead is first priority, Hunt says

By RANDY COVITZ and JEFFREY SPIVAK

The Kansas City Star

After intense public speculation on the fate of the Chiefs, team Chairman Clark Hunt has reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the franchise in this metropolitan area.

In an interview Friday, Hunt made his hopes clear. “Our first priority is at the sports complex,” he said.

If improvements are not made to the Truman Sports Complex, the Chiefs may leave — but he indicated they probably would not go far.

“Our second priority would be to figure out a way to have a facility somewhere else in the metropolitan area, and that includes the Kansas side,” Hunt said.

For the past couple of weeks, a meeting including Hunt and local and state officials in Jefferson City has sent shock waves through the political and sports landscapes.

While the Royals, the Chiefs and Jackson County were lobbying for more money for the stadiums from the state of Missouri earlier this month, some state legislators and local officials remember Hunt saying that unless Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums were renovated, one or both teams could be gone in 10 years.

This week Hunt was quoted in a story on CBS.SportsLine.com as saying that his statements to legislators were that the team would leave Missouri. Hunt said in the article that he was actually referring to the prospect of the team crossing the state line to Kansas.

Yet, several officials in the Jefferson City meeting have said they inferred that Hunt meant the Chiefs would leave the metropolitan area.

Still, despite any confusion, both Hunt and others agree they want the Chiefs to stay at Arrowhead.

“Our focus is to figure out how to have a successful franchise in Kansas City for the long term,” Hunt said. “We're in discussions with Jackson County and the (Truman Sports Complex's) sports authority trying to solve our situation there first.”

Meanwhile, top Jackson County officials have reiterated their commitment not to let the county's stadium situation get to any point where the teams would look elsewhere to play.

Not only do county officials want to lock up the teams to lease extensions, but also they want to get on with a plan to potentially make the sports complex a year-round attraction with more restaurants and shops.

“At the end of the day, we're going to keep these teams,” Mike Smith, a Lee's Summit insurance executive who is chairman of the sports authority, said Friday. “I'm going to make a deal with these teams. We're going to win this.”

Jackson County has leases with the two teams that expire at the end of 2014. But the leases include lists of repair and maintenance projects that the county must pay for. The projects scheduled for next year, for instance, are estimated to cost $18 million — which exceeds the $9 million that local and state governments contribute every year toward the stadiums.

By the end of next year, then, the county is in danger of defaulting on the leases, which technically could make the teams free agents, able to look elsewhere for a home.

The county and the teams have swung and missed three times this decade in attempts to raise more money — twice with the state government and once through a multicounty bistate tax. So Jackson County leaders now are looking to solve the money problem themselves.
County and local sports officials are considering a November sales tax election to raise funds. They are in talks with the teams about the size and length of that tax.

“We're not going to lose them. Jackson County is not going to lose the Chiefs or the Royals,” Dan Tarwater, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, said Friday. “Jackson County is going to solve this problem.”
Speculation on the teams possibly leaving has given county and local sports officials a renewed sense of urgency to solve the stadium problem. And that's just fine with Hunt.

Although he lives in Dallas and some local officials wonder whether he has the same commitment to Kansas City as his father, team owner Lamar Hunt, Clark noted that his wife, Tavia, is from the Kansas City area.

“My family loves Kansas City,” Clark Hunt said Friday. “The Chiefs and Kansas City go together, and it's our objective to figure out how to solve the stadium situation in Kansas City first and foremost.”
If that fails, however, Hunt suggested the Kansas side might be a possibility. He has had no dialogue with anyone in Wyandotte and Johnson counties about a possible move. But he has been impressed with the success of Kansas Speedway and the Village West development.

“As I understand it,” Hunt said, “there was an opportunity for the speedway to be built in Missouri, and whoever on the Missouri side didn't pursue it. … As a result Kansas stepped forward, and that facility is over there.”

So far, though, the mayor of Wyandotte County's Unified Government is noncommittal about his government's possible interest in the team.
“There are a lot of things that can be speculated at this point,” said Joe Reardon, the Unified Government's new mayor. “I think Arrowhead Stadium is a great facility. I think the Kansas City Chiefs are a mainstay of our community. I'm committed to making sure they stay here.
“I would like to work cooperatively with the rest of metropolitan leadership to develop a plan on how to approach this.”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/11758990.htm

**Skip Towne** · 05-28-2005, 04:04 PM

Ah, the Kansas Chiefs. It has a nice ring to it. Wouldn't Frazod have a hissy fit?

**Bob Dole** · 05-28-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Ah, the Kansas Chiefs. It has a nice ring to it. Wouldn't Frazod have a hissy fit?

Even if they moved to a facility in something other than KCK, Bob Dole seriously doubts that they would change the team name.

See: Irving Cowboys.

**Skip Towne** · 05-28-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BikeBob

Even if they moved to a facility in something other than KCK, Bob Dole seriously doubts that they would change the team name.

See: Irving Cowboys.

Are you forgetting the New Jersey Giants?

Thig Lyfe · 05-28-2005, 05:08 PM

Johnson County would actually be an excellent choice for a new stadium. But all I care about is if they stay in KC.

**Bowser** · 05-28-2005, 05:09 PM

There is no way that the Hunt family gives up the goldmine that is the Kansas City Chiefs fan base.

Thig Lyfe · 05-28-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

There is no way that the Hunt family gives up the goldmine that is the Kansas City Chiefs fan base.

Yeah, at least that's what I hope. But history has proven that the people who run pro sports aren't always exactly bright.

mikey23545 · 05-28-2005, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArrowheadWolf

Yeah, at least that's what I hope. But history has proven that the people who run pro sports aren't always exactly bright.

Right now you need to be wondering how bright your politicians and voters are, not pro sports people.

Thig Lyfe · 05-28-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Right now you need to be wondering how bright your politicians and voters are, not pro sports people.

True. But, if Hunt knows what's good for him he'll do everything possible to stay in KC.

whoman69 · 05-28-2005, 06:27 PM

The Chiefs get the maximum fan support from Arrowhead. Moving into some Perrier and micro brew stadium like in Denver and Washington may help them financially but the team will lose out with the fan base.

Wile_E_Coyote · 05-28-2005, 06:32 PM

It's bad enough having my MO tax dollars going to the the Rams. Western Kansas Bronco fans would have a cow

BIG_DADDY · 05-28-2005, 06:37 PM

They will never leave the area that's like taking the Packers out of Green Bay.

Dayze · 05-28-2005, 09:44 PM

as long as they're in "KC" so to speak I'm ok.

Hell, $20 parking + $60 nosebleed seats (X's 2) + beer/bbg/food.....

I'lll stay home and watch them and save $200, thanks.

**BigRedChief** · 05-28-2005, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

They will never leave the area that's like taking the Packers out of Green Bay.

Yeah, like the Browns out of Clevland, the Colts out of Baltimore....

BIG_DADDY · 05-28-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Yeah, like the Browns out of Clevland, the Colts out of Baltimore....

They pale in comparison. Chiefs fans are a staple and have the best fans in the NFL bar none. LA has the worst fans period.

05-28-2005, 03:16 PM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5146768	KC Star: Chiefs remain committed to KC area Arrowhead is first priority, Hunt says By RANDY COVITZ and JEFFREY SPIVAK The Kansas City Star After intense public speculation on the fate of the Chiefs, team Chairman Clark Hunt has reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the franchise in this metropolitan area. In an interview Friday, Hunt made his hopes clear. “Our first priority is at the sports complex,” he said. If improvements are not made to the Truman Sports Complex, the Chiefs may leave — but he indicated they probably would not go far. “Our second priority would be to figure out a way to have a facility somewhere else in the metropolitan area, and that includes the Kansas side,” Hunt said. For the past couple of weeks, a meeting including Hunt and local and state officials in Jefferson City has sent shock waves through the political and sports landscapes. While the Royals, the Chiefs and Jackson County were lobbying for more money for the stadiums from the state of Missouri earlier this month, some state legislators and local officials remember Hunt saying that unless Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums were renovated, one or both teams could be gone in 10 years. This week Hunt was quoted in a story on CBS.SportsLine.com as saying that his statements to legislators were that the team would leave Missouri. Hunt said in the article that he was actually referring to the prospect of the team crossing the state line to Kansas. Yet, several officials in the Jefferson City meeting have said they inferred that Hunt meant the Chiefs would leave the metropolitan area. Still, despite any confusion, both Hunt and others agree they want the Chiefs to stay at Arrowhead. “Our focus is to figure out how to have a successful franchise in Kansas City for the long term,” Hunt said. “We're in discussions with Jackson County and the (Truman Sports Complex's) sports authority trying to solve our situation there first.” Meanwhile, top Jackson County officials have reiterated their commitment not to let the county's stadium situation get to any point where the teams would look elsewhere to play. Not only do county officials want to lock up the teams to lease extensions, but also they want to get on with a plan to potentially make the sports complex a year-round attraction with more restaurants and shops. “At the end of the day, we're going to keep these teams,” Mike Smith, a Lee's Summit insurance executive who is chairman of the sports authority, said Friday. “I'm going to make a deal with these teams. We're going to win this.” Jackson County has leases with the two teams that expire at the end of 2014. But the leases include lists of repair and maintenance projects that the county must pay for. The projects scheduled for next year, for instance, are estimated to cost $18 million — which exceeds the $9 million that local and state governments contribute every year toward the stadiums. By the end of next year, then, the county is in danger of defaulting on the leases, which technically could make the teams free agents, able to look elsewhere for a home. The county and the teams have swung and missed three times this decade in attempts to raise more money — twice with the state government and once through a multicounty bistate tax. So Jackson County leaders now are looking to solve the money problem themselves. County and local sports officials are considering a November sales tax election to raise funds. They are in talks with the teams about the size and length of that tax. “We're not going to lose them. Jackson County is not going to lose the Chiefs or the Royals,” Dan Tarwater, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, said Friday. “Jackson County is going to solve this problem.” Speculation on the teams possibly leaving has given county and local sports officials a renewed sense of urgency to solve the stadium problem. And that's just fine with Hunt. Although he lives in Dallas and some local officials wonder whether he has the same commitment to Kansas City as his father, team owner Lamar Hunt, Clark noted that his wife, Tavia, is from the Kansas City area. “My family loves Kansas City,” Clark Hunt said Friday. “The Chiefs and Kansas City go together, and it's our objective to figure out how to solve the stadium situation in Kansas City first and foremost.” If that fails, however, Hunt suggested the Kansas side might be a possibility. He has had no dialogue with anyone in Wyandotte and Johnson counties about a possible move. But he has been impressed with the success of Kansas Speedway and the Village West development. “As I understand it,” Hunt said, “there was an opportunity for the speedway to be built in Missouri, and whoever on the Missouri side didn't pursue it. … As a result Kansas stepped forward, and that facility is over there.” So far, though, the mayor of Wyandotte County's Unified Government is noncommittal about his government's possible interest in the team. “There are a lot of things that can be speculated at this point,” said Joe Reardon, the Unified Government's new mayor. “I think Arrowhead Stadium is a great facility. I think the Kansas City Chiefs are a mainstay of our community. I'm committed to making sure they stay here. “I would like to work cooperatively with the rest of metropolitan leadership to develop a plan on how to approach this.” http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/11758990.htm Last edited by \|Zach\|; 05-28-2005 at 03:21 PM..
Posts: 53,496

05-28-2005, 04:04 PM	#2
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Ah, the Kansas Chiefs. It has a nice ring to it. Wouldn't Frazod have a hissy fit?
Posts: 69,689

05-28-2005, 05:08 PM	#5
Thig Lyfe Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Thigpen's America Casino cash: $10004900	Johnson County would actually be an excellent choice for a new stadium. But all I care about is if they stay in KC.
Posts: 25,680

05-28-2005, 05:09 PM	#6
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3041616	There is no way that the Hunt family gives up the goldmine that is the Kansas City Chiefs fan base.
Posts: 101,310

05-28-2005, 06:32 PM	#11
Wile_E_Coyote avatar down for remodel Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	It's bad enough having my MO tax dollars going to the the Rams. Western Kansas Bronco fans would have a cow
Posts: 6,009

05-28-2005, 06:37 PM	#12
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $4888410	They will never leave the area that's like taking the Packers out of Green Bay. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,387

05-28-2005, 09:44 PM	#13
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $4769358	as long as they're in "KC" so to speak I'm ok. Hell, $20 parking + $60 nosebleed seats (X's 2) + beer/bbg/food..... I'lll stay home and watch them and save $200, thanks. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,378