Kansas City-area voters love their Chiefs and Royals, but they’re not keen on paying more in taxes to pay for their venues.
KMBC 9 in Kansas City reported Tuesday that voters have rejected a 40-year extension of a 3/8th-cent sales tax that would have helped fund a new downtown ballpark for the Royals. Funds also would have been used to repair and maintain the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium.
More than 78,000 Jackson County residents voted “No” on Question 1, sending the sales tax proposal to a 58-42 defeat.
Voters in Jackson County have rejected a 40-year extension of a 3/8th-cent sales tax.
The extension would have helped fund a new downtown stadium for the Kansas City Royals and maintain and repair Arrowhead Stadium: https://t.co/AWlht5pWxF pic.twitter.com/rPlp2DcCqL
— KMBC (@kmbc) April 3, 2024
Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman conceded defeat in a statement.
“We respect the voters of Jackson County and the results of the election today,” Sherman said. “We will take some time to reflect on and process the outcome and find a path forward that works out for the Royals and our fans.”
A statement from John Sherman regarding today's Jackson County election: pic.twitter.com/t85qx0Cwfh
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2024
The Royals had unveiled their plans for a $2 billion facility in downtown KC in February.
We are excited to share our vision for the future of Royals baseball in the heart of Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/1t2Wcumyoa
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) February 13, 2024
Chiefs president Mark Donovan told KMBC that, “We’re disappointed. We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County … we’re ready to extend the long-standing partnership with the teams they enjoyed with this county. This is important.”
This doesn’t mean the Royals’ proposed ballpark will not be built, but it will not be funded by an extension of that sales tax.
Supporters on both sides of the issue spoke out on the results.
Good job Jackson County!!
Thank goodness! We need to stop passing taxes for billion dollar sports team. Kudos to Jackson County for ending the tax. https://t.co/eYBFEQc1R2
— Seth🇺🇸 (@AmericanReg1) April 3, 2024
So sad that the Royals moving cities is now a potential. A new stadium for them is a must in current MLB climate. Most cities help fund in some capacity. I’m not a local and know there’s a lot to the vote, but the idea of a team leaving not only crushes fans but local businesses https://t.co/qELILKGTsn
— Grants Rants (@GrantAnthony_) April 3, 2024
Too bad they couldn’t separate the vote by stadium. Results may have been different. https://t.co/BtK3mO2nwU
— Rhonda (@simpler1958) April 3, 2024
Voters in Kansas City told the billionaires that they aren’t going to raise taxes for sports stadiums. Good. https://t.co/y6SCc2Kitn
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) April 3, 2024
The taxpayers have spoken:
-Pay for your own stadium
-DON’T build in downtown KC
-Improve the on-field product
-Make a stadium design proposal WITH CROWN VISION https://t.co/sramWeiyUK— Erik Green (@egreenwx) April 3, 2024
Embarassing more for the Royals than the Chiefs. I don’t think the Royals plan was solid enough. Hopefully Sherman doesn’t have a knee-jerk reaction and take the team out of town but if he does, the Jackson County voters who voted no have no right to complain. https://t.co/K5uMd3icix
— Erik Stone (@erikmstone) April 3, 2024
[KMBC; Photo Credit: Kansas City Royals on Twitter]
