Report: Kansas developers pitch Chiefs on stadium relocation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have had an active offseason this year with trades, free agent signings and the upcoming draft.

The offseason chatter now also includes talk of the team’s long-term home.

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The Ringer’s Kevin Clark, who is covering the NFL meetings this week in Palm Beach, Florida, tweeted an exchange Tuesday he had with Chiefs President Mark Donovan.

Clark reported that Donovan said the team has been approached by “Kansas developers” about possibly relocating to the state.

Clark’s Tweet included Donovan referencing the team’s connection to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and its connection to team founder Lamar Hunt.

The Harry S. Truman Sports Complex includes GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is home to the Chiefs, and Kauffman Stadium, home of the Royals.

The Chiefs began playing at the stadium in 1972 and the Royals began playing at then-Royals Stadium in 1973.

The report of Donovan's comments drew the attention of Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, who expressed desire to keep the club in the city “for generations to come.”

Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. weighed in Tuesday afternoon.

“Jackson County has been the proud home of Arrowhead Stadium since 1972," he said in a statement. "To this day, Arrowhead Stadium continues to be the best and loudest football stadium in world, providing the greatest fan experience in the NFL thanks in large part to the significant investments made by Jackson County residents. The Chiefs and the Royals are under contract until at least 2031. The county looks forward to working with all involved to ensure both teams remain in Jackson County for decades to come.”

The county built and owns the Truman Sports Complex, which is operated by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

A Chiefs spokesperson confirmed Donovan spoke with reporters Tuesday, but offered no other comment.

KSHB 41 News spoke with Chiefs fans that were both for and against the move.

One fan Teresa Moore, who has been a Chiefs fan for roughly 35 years, says she is concerned about the traffic and lack of room to tailgate.

"It has access to get on and off I-70. I've been to other stadiums that are like downtown and it's a nightmare. Parking and tailgating is one of the things we are known for, we’ve got the place for it out there," Tereasa Moore said.

Her friend Mary Burian agrees, adding she is worried about the loss of tradition.

"I would rather it stay here. It's been here so long it's traditions, Kansas City loves tradition, and I love Kansas City and it's apart of our history and I would like for it to stay," she said.

Fans who were in favor of the move say it would leave a great economic impact on the state of Kansas.

"Changing the location and the benefits logically may outweigh the losses," Rocq Hancock Sinatra said.

New Royals owner John Sherman has been vocal about the team's exploration of a new downtown stadium.

The Chiefs' posturing comes one day after the Buffalo Bills and public authorities in New York agreed to a new stadium deal for a $1.4-billion facility in Orchard Park, New York, that includes a record $850 million in public money.

New York state will contribute $600 million to the project and Erie County, New York, will chip in $250 million.

The Bills' owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, will contribute $350 million, while the NFL will loan the franchise $200 million — $150 million of which will be repaid from the visiting teams' share of ticket revenue over a 25-year period and $50 million owed by the Pegulas, according to NBC Sports.

With the promise of a Major League Baseball All-Star Game and a new 25-year lease agreement for the Chiefs and Royals, voters approved $850 million in tax increases to renovate the sports complex in 2006.

On that same ballot, voter rejected a rolling roof between the stadiums.