Kansas lawmakers approve STAR Bonds extension for Chiefs, Royals

Kansas lawmakers voted to extend the deadline for the state’s STAR Bonds, giving the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals more time to work out stadium deals. The offer expired June 30, but the Legislative Coordinating Council met Monday to discuss an extension. The committee unanimously voted to extend the deadline, meaning the offer is technically good for another year, which was the only extension option in the bill language. The LCC set an arbitrary deadline, however, saying it will only consider finalizing proposals with teams until Dec. 31, 2025. This came after Chiefs President Mark Donovan penned a letter to the Kansas Legislature, requesting more time for the decision due to the “complexity and scale of the project.” The Chiefs said in the letter that they remained “fully committed” to the opportunity in Kansas. Much of the discussion Monday included the fact that the Chiefs said they have gone weeks without hearing from the commerce department in charge of negotiating for the state of Kansas. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson called for the special committee meeting, saying Donovan’s letter indicated stadium discussions were making progress. “I’m under the impression that there are real conversations happening,” Masterson said. “And I was very grateful for Mark Donovan’s letter that was expressing that.” After the deadline extension, the Chiefs expressed gratitude and said the organization will continue to explore its options. “We are grateful to the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council for extending the dates of the STAR Bond legislation. We continue to have fruitful conversations with community leaders and public officials, and this legislation allows us to further evaluate our potential options for a stadium in Kansas. As we have said from the beginning, the Chiefs are committed to making the best long-term decision for our fans, our franchise, and all of Chiefs Kingdom.” If one or both teams move across state lines, the incentives would cover up to 70% of a new stadium’s cost. Missouri is still a contender. The Missouri General Assembly, during a special session, approved the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.The Missouri plan covers up to 50% of stadium construction costs for teams tied to Major League Baseball or the NFL, provided the project exceeds $500 million.

Kansas lawmakers voted to extend the deadline for the state’s STAR Bonds, giving the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals more time to work out stadium deals.

The offer expired June 30, but the Legislative Coordinating Council met Monday to discuss an extension.

The committee unanimously voted to extend the deadline, meaning the offer is technically good for another year, which was the only extension option in the bill language.

The LCC set an arbitrary deadline, however, saying it will only consider finalizing proposals with teams until Dec. 31, 2025.

This came after Chiefs President Mark Donovan penned a letter to the Kansas Legislature, requesting more time for the decision due to the “complexity and scale of the project.”

The Chiefs said in the letter that they remained “fully committed” to the opportunity in Kansas.

Much of the discussion Monday included the fact that the Chiefs said they have gone weeks without hearing from the commerce department in charge of negotiating for the state of Kansas.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson called for the special committee meeting, saying Donovan’s letter indicated stadium discussions were making progress.

“I’m under the impression that there are real conversations happening,” Masterson said. “And I was very grateful for Mark Donovan’s letter that was expressing that.”

After the deadline extension, the Chiefs expressed gratitude and said the organization will continue to explore its options.

“We are grateful to the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council for extending the dates of the STAR Bond legislation. We continue to have fruitful conversations with community leaders and public officials, and this legislation allows us to further evaluate our potential options for a stadium in Kansas. As we have said from the beginning, the Chiefs are committed to making the best long-term decision for our fans, our franchise, and all of Chiefs Kingdom.”

If one or both teams move across state lines, the incentives would cover up to 70% of a new stadium’s cost.

Missouri is still a contender. The Missouri General Assembly, during a special session, approved the Show-Me Sports Investment Act.

The Missouri plan covers up to 50% of stadium construction costs for teams tied to Major League Baseball or the NFL, provided the project exceeds $500 million.