Chiefs make pitch to owners for stadium upgrades

Brock · 11-16-2005, 08:17 AM

Home improvements
Chiefs make pitch to owners for stadium upgrades
Posted: Tuesday November 15, 2005 10:54PM; Updated: Wednesday November 16, 2005 1:16AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Could a Super Bowl be in the future for Kansas City? Not the team -- the town?

The Kansas City Chiefs made a presentation to NFL owners on Tuesday that included plans for a rolling roof on their 33-year-old facility that would meet the league's demands for weather-protected stadiums in non-Sun Belt cities.

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair was impressed with the presentation.

"I think it's an exciting proposal," he said. "I think it is very innovative and certainly would give the Chiefs a lot of facility with their venue."

The possibility of a Super Bowl might be a good carrot to dangle in front of voters who will be asked to approve hundreds of millions in improvements to both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium, home of baseball's Royals.

The Chiefs already have said they want about $300 million worth of renovation for Arrowhead. Clark Hunt, the chairman of the board, said the roof would add "between $100 million and $200 million" to the bill.

Hunt said there was no guarantee of a Super Bowl for Kansas City.

"We've tabled for quite some time our request for a Super Bowl, so we'll have to see where it goes," he said. "If you look at the way things have played out in other communities who have made commitments to new stadiums, particularly weather-protected stadiums, they've had an opportunity to come back to the membership and request a Super Bowl."

The rolling roof, which would service both adjoining stadiums, first was discussed when the Truman Sports Complex was built in the early 1970s.

"The rolling roof is part of the discussions with [Jackson County]. The rolling roof has the capability to slide over either stadium," Hunt said. "The Royals have been less committal about their interest in the roof to this point, but we think the rolling roof could be a tremendous asset to Kansas City, regardless of its use for baseball.

"It could tremendously augment what happens at Arrowhead Stadium and maybe create some other entertainment options at the sports complex when it's rolled off the stadium."

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Lamar Hunt, founder of the Chiefs, made "an excellent presentation" to his peers.

Tagliabue also said if the improvements are made and owners are asked to put a Super Bowl in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt's stature as an elder statesman could play a role.

"Certainly it would. I'm certain it would be a very positive thing," Tagliabue said. "He's not only got tremendous regard among the owners, obviously he's the founder of the American Football League. For 45 years, he has been giving great credit not only to this sport, but other sports. I'm sure that would be a very positive factor for many of the owners."

Shortly after Arrowhead opened, the Chiefs hosted a Pro Bowl in January 1974.

"And, they've had a terrific football team, produced great football over the years, and great rivalries and great fan support," Tagliabue said.

Making the sports complex climate-controlled also could help attract other events, Clark Hunt said.

"We've got a long ways to go on the design, but something that is in the back of our mind is whether we'll be able to add that feature," he said. "It would be part of what we want to put on the ballot. We need to do more work on what the costs would be before we get the leases ironed out, which is an ongoing process."

McNair said the plans appeared to be very creative.

"If we're going to the people and we're asking the people for something, they're entitled to know what they're going to get," he said. "If you just said, `Here's the same stadium, you're going to get the same stadium,' a person is going to ask, `Why should I do this?'

"We all look for value, and I think voters do, too."

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

11-16-2005, 08:17 AM	Topic Starter
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	Chiefs make pitch to owners for stadium upgrades Home improvements Chiefs make pitch to owners for stadium upgrades Posted: Tuesday November 15, 2005 10:54PM; Updated: Wednesday November 16, 2005 1:16AM KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Could a Super Bowl be in the future for Kansas City? Not the team -- the town? The Kansas City Chiefs made a presentation to NFL owners on Tuesday that included plans for a rolling roof on their 33-year-old facility that would meet the league's demands for weather-protected stadiums in non-Sun Belt cities. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair was impressed with the presentation. "I think it's an exciting proposal," he said. "I think it is very innovative and certainly would give the Chiefs a lot of facility with their venue." The possibility of a Super Bowl might be a good carrot to dangle in front of voters who will be asked to approve hundreds of millions in improvements to both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium, home of baseball's Royals. The Chiefs already have said they want about $300 million worth of renovation for Arrowhead. Clark Hunt, the chairman of the board, said the roof would add "between $100 million and $200 million" to the bill. Hunt said there was no guarantee of a Super Bowl for Kansas City. "We've tabled for quite some time our request for a Super Bowl, so we'll have to see where it goes," he said. "If you look at the way things have played out in other communities who have made commitments to new stadiums, particularly weather-protected stadiums, they've had an opportunity to come back to the membership and request a Super Bowl." The rolling roof, which would service both adjoining stadiums, first was discussed when the Truman Sports Complex was built in the early 1970s. "The rolling roof is part of the discussions with [Jackson County]. The rolling roof has the capability to slide over either stadium," Hunt said. "The Royals have been less committal about their interest in the roof to this point, but we think the rolling roof could be a tremendous asset to Kansas City, regardless of its use for baseball. "It could tremendously augment what happens at Arrowhead Stadium and maybe create some other entertainment options at the sports complex when it's rolled off the stadium." NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Lamar Hunt, founder of the Chiefs, made "an excellent presentation" to his peers. Tagliabue also said if the improvements are made and owners are asked to put a Super Bowl in Kansas City, Lamar Hunt's stature as an elder statesman could play a role. "Certainly it would. I'm certain it would be a very positive thing," Tagliabue said. "He's not only got tremendous regard among the owners, obviously he's the founder of the American Football League. For 45 years, he has been giving great credit not only to this sport, but other sports. I'm sure that would be a very positive factor for many of the owners." Shortly after Arrowhead opened, the Chiefs hosted a Pro Bowl in January 1974. "And, they've had a terrific football team, produced great football over the years, and great rivalries and great fan support," Tagliabue said. Making the sports complex climate-controlled also could help attract other events, Clark Hunt said. "We've got a long ways to go on the design, but something that is in the back of our mind is whether we'll be able to add that feature," he said. "It would be part of what we want to put on the ballot. We need to do more work on what the costs would be before we get the leases ironed out, which is an ongoing process." McNair said the plans appeared to be very creative. "If we're going to the people and we're asking the people for something, they're entitled to know what they're going to get," he said. "If you just said, `Here's the same stadium, you're going to get the same stadium,' a person is going to ask, `Why should I do this?' "We all look for value, and I think voters do, too." Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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