Kansas governor says she won't get into Chiefs, Royals bidding war

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In an exclusive interview with FOX4's Kansas Capitol Bureau, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says that the minute she feels like there's a bidding war between her state and Missouri, she's 'out' on negotiations when it comes to sports teams.

In the Summer of 2024, Kelly signed a bill that would allow the state to issue Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds to pay for new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals in the Sunflower State.

Thursday, Kelly told Capitol Bureau Reporter Rebekah Chung that she does not think it's fair to Kansans for state leaders to get into a bidding war type of approach when it comes to economic development.

"So, you know, you can be sure that, we've done a lot of economic development deals in the time that I have been governor," she told Chung. "We have vetted every single one of those to ensure that if we're going to invest this kind of money, we're going to get a heck of a return on that investment."

Kelly weighed in on Kansas’ stadium incentive plan further. It would allow the state to cover up to 70% of the cost of a new Chiefs or Royals stadium through STAR bonds.

“You know, I think if you look back on all of the economic development projects that we have closed, have we laid out a bunch of money? Yes, we absolutely have,” Kelly said. “But it’s always been calculated on, ‘here’s what we will invest. Here’s what we expect to get back to make Kansas a better place to live.’ And so, we’re doing the same thing with this economic development project. It is no different than any other.”

The same week Chung interviewed Kelly, our Missouri Capitol Bureau Reporter Mark Zinn interviewed Republican Governor Mike Kehoe. Zinn asked Kehoe if he believes the teams have preferred sites.

"Well, the Chiefs have definitely said they want to stay at Arrowhead, and we're encouraging them," Kehoe said. "They've released some plans that would make Arrowhead a legacy facility. Much like Lambeau Field is. So, there's some really exciting stuff that could happen at the existing site for the Chiefs."

The Chiefs wouldn't comment on this particular story in time for our deadline. The interview with Governor Kehoe was just five days after North Kansas City Mayor Jesse Smith said he was having substantial conversations with the Royals.

"Our offers are agnostic as long as they stay on this side of the line," Kehoe continued. "In Missouri, our offers will work."

Republican State Senate President Ty Masterson says he expects a proposal from the Royals at a Legislative Coordinating Council meeting either in late November or early December. He's also set an end of the year deadline if either team wants to come to the Sunflower State.