Jackson Co. Executive to announce “next steps” for Truman Sports Complex ahead of Chiefs departure
Hold on. Long time no see. I know. How you been? Something happen since we talked? Uh, no, you know, car wreck and things. Good afternoon. I, like the people of Jackson County, the state of Missouri, and the millions of members of Chiefs Kingdom, are disappointed that the Chiefs are taking measures to build *** new stadium in Kansas and abandoning the iconic Arrowhead Stadium that has so much history to the area and to the National Football League. The Kansas Chiefs are more than *** football team. They’re part of the fabric of this community, and this is where their legacy and the Hunt family, family legacy was built. The Chiefs have now started their plan for making *** move, and we respect that decision. We don’t agree with it. But we can respect our team moving in their financial interests. At the same time, it is deeply disappointing to the taxpayers of Missouri and Jackson County who have supported this team and invested in Arrowhead Stadium for generations, and it’s disappointing to the fans. Jackson County remains confident that we put together the best plan, one that protects the team, protects the community. And respects the taxpayer. I was never going to ask for *** tax increase for the team, but our partnership created *** plan to keep the team while lowering taxes. And now to hear the details coming from Kansas, the $3 billion project, wow. Wow to you Kansas taxpayers. Good luck. I know our proposal is still grounded in experience, transparency, and *** clearly defined long-term maintenance strategy that has been proven over time. That commitment is why Arrowhead Stadium has remained one of the best professional sports stadiums in the world. We, like everyone else, will look for the details of the Star bonds proposal closely. I do know that the devil is in the details, and those still have to be ironed out. Um, I’d be remiss if I don’t tell you I can’t speak highly enough about Governor Mike Kehoe and his leadership and his effort and his dedication to the state and to the chiefs. And work with Mayor Lucas and my legislature has been one of the greatest examples in government and politics of bipartisanship efforts in the best interests of the people of Missouri, especially in this toxic time of politics. I’m so proud of our efforts in being part of that team. I wish I, I could have been part of the team earlier. I’ve been in office for 8 or 9 weeks and it feels like 8 or 9 years. But I also can’t speak highly enough about Mark Donovan and the Hunt family. They are professionals. We were still talking as late as *** few days ago, and Mark made sure to call me regularly and even call me today, the minute the deal was finally agreed to before it was announced, and he knew I would keep that confidence until the formal announcement was made. So, today was the initial step towards the Chiefs move, but our unprecedented Missouri team will still be the team that put the best plan for the Chiefs, and I’ll tell you, Missourians do not give up easily. And the Chiefs are still Jackson County’s team. For many years, and we will remain supportive of them, but also are here with *** plan if this shock and awe Kansas proposal isn’t as wonderful as it might seem. So, while the Chiefs are still going to be Jackson County’s team, and in Jackson County, and in my stadium for the next 5 years, I will help the Chiefs celebrate every moment of that time. Go Chiefs Kingdom. If you have any questions, I’ll. I do. Um, with this, do you think they’ll get the money to do it from private funding? I mean, our star bonds clearly aren’t gonna be enough. There’s *** huge percentage, like 40%, that’s gonna have to come from private funding. Do you think they’ll get it done in 5 years? That’s the $3 billion question. And that we just don’t know, um, and good luck to them doing it. The chiefs have looked at it, the Kansas legislature governor think they can. Um, I know we could with our funds, so, uh, I wish, wish them the best of luck, but boy, that’s *** heavy lift. What happens to the property in 5 years? Can we look that far ahead right now? We can, and, and, and we’ll do something amazing with that property. It’s, it’s been historical. It has *** heart in every, it has *** place in everyone’s heart, and, uh, Jackson County resilient. We’ll make, we’ll make do. OK, thank you. Now that the Chiefs are going to Kansas, are you willing to share the potential commitments that you’ve secured last week, numbers-wise from the city and the state during the first panic you’ve come here? I think they’re irrelevant now, but I think that actually, I would not say they’re irrelevant. They’re still there. The Chiefs know what they are, and if something would go wrong over there, we’re still here. We’re still courting our chiefs. So it’s not done for you. This is not done. Never done. Never done at all. There’s *** lot. You, you, you made the right point. There’s *** lot of details to go on, and we have *** plan that they know the plan is. So if something would go awry, um, I hope it does. Well, I shouldn’t say that. If it does, we’re, we’re here and we’re. We’ve been, uh, this family, Chief’s family for decades, and we’ll still be here and we’re, we’re supportive of the team and whatever they do, but we’re here if they need us. Do you wish you got in here *** little bit sooner to work this? I sure do. I sure wish I would have been here sooner. Um, I’ve heard *** lot of media, uh, questions about. My specific, my specific position and related to all this, and I think it, I think it was *** detriment to the administration here before. I think it was, uh, not only speed bump but roadblock, and I think that since I’ve been here, um, we’ve made some amazing grounds with this leadership team, and I sure wish I would have been interested. OK. OK. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you guys.
Jackson Co. Executive to announce “next steps” for Truman Sports Complex ahead of Chiefs departure
Updated: 9:14 AM CDT Mar 26, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs are departing Kansas City, Missouri, for Kansas City, Kansas, and the future home of the Kansas City Royals has been in limbo for more than a year.Those facts leave many to wonder what’s in store for the future of the Truman Sports Complex, the home of Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums.Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota is scheduled to hold a press conference Thursday to make a “significant announcement” regarding the future of the complex.A release from the county said the announcement will focus on next steps for the county-owned site, and “outline a forward-looking vision for one of Jackson County’s most important assets.””This is about taking a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to one of our county’s most important assets and making sure we get it right for the future,” LeVota said. The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. You’ll be able to watch it here on KMBC.com.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
The Kansas City Chiefs are departing Kansas City, Missouri, for Kansas City, Kansas, and the future home of the Kansas City Royals has been in limbo for more than a year.
Those facts leave many to wonder what’s in store for the future of the Truman Sports Complex, the home of Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums.
Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota is scheduled to hold a press conference Thursday to make a “significant announcement” regarding the future of the complex.
A release from the county said the announcement will focus on next steps for the county-owned site, and “outline a forward-looking vision for one of Jackson County’s most important assets.”
“This is about taking a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to one of our county’s most important assets and making sure we get it right for the future,” LeVota said.
The news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. You’ll be able to watch it here on KMBC.com.