KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.
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After reports revealed that Kansas was in “active discussions” with the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota held a press conference Friday to discuss keeping the team in the county.
The plan, titled “Operation Save Arrowhead,” includes a vote in April on reducing one of the county’s sales tax from 3/8 cent to to 1/4 cent. If the sales tax is reduced, it would go into effect in 2031. It would only benefit the Chiefs instead of the Chiefs and Royals as it does now.
Under the terms of this proposal, the Chiefs would contribute at least $400 million to renovations, according to LeVota. The Chiefs pledged $300 million in 2024’s failed proposal.
KSHB 41’s Charlie Keegan explores what’s next in stadium border war
Millions will also come from both the state of Missouri and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, but LeVota did not provide those exact numbers.
“I’m not telling our friends in Kansas,” LeVota said.
The county’s plan did not include the Kansas City Royals.
LeVota said he has been discussing with Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman weekly and that the county is “attacking (the Chiefs and the Royals) as separate entities.”
LeVota told reporters that he has also had weekly conversations with Mark Donovan, team president of the Chiefs, and that he talked with Donovan as recently as Friday.
“There is no done deal,” LeVota said.
Executive Phil LeVota details plan to keep Chiefs in Jackson County
LeVota claimed that Kansas politicians are pressuring the Chiefs since the state’s STAR Bond law is set to expire on Dec. 31. He also stated Kansas has “lofty ideas but no plan.”
LeVota called Jackson County’s plan to keep the Chiefs “simple” and “straightforward,” but that there are still some details to work out.
“We don’t want them to cross state lines without a fight,” LeVota said near the end of Friday’s press conference.
A Chiefs spokesperson did not comment on LeVota’s plan.
Shoppers at Rally House at Tanger Kansas City Legends said they’d welcome the team to Kansas.
“We’d like to hear that as soon as possible,” Arturo Campos said. “They can say we’re going to build it in 2026, let’s go for it and start breaking ground.”
“It may end up in Kansas. That’d be wonderful. I’d be all for it,” added Rick Ratliff.
A group of Kansas lawmakers tasked with reviewing any stadium-related STAR Bond proposals will meet Monday in Topeka. One state senator on the committee told KSHB 41 News reporter Charlie Keegan that a Chiefs-related item will be on the agenda.
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