KANAS CITY, Mo. – In his first one-on-one interview since the bombshell announcement just before Christmas, Kansas Lieutenant Governor David Toland told FOX4 Kansas City Chiefs will come to Kansas.
He said this while also offering rare clarity on where the state of Kansas stands with the Kansas City Royals.
The wide-ranging, 40-minute interview—which you’ll only see on FOX4—marks Toland’s most direct public comments since news broke of a deal that would bring the Chiefs across the state line.
Hundreds of drivers pulled over on US 71 Highway during enforcement effort: KCPD
Toland also serves as Kansas’ Secretary of Commerce, placing him at the center of negotiations and the chief negotiator for the state, state leaders are hailing this as a major economic victory.
Much of the conversation focused on the Chiefs agreement and the questions that remain unanswered.
While state leaders say the deal is done, several key details are still unresolved, most notably where exactly the STAR Bonds district will be located and which municipalities will ultimately participate.
Those local approvals are required for the deal to move forward. That has not happened, but Toland says the Chiefs are coming to Kansas.
As speculation continues, Toland addressed concerns many are asking about whether taxpayers will see an increase, how the state plans to protect residents of Wyandotte County from being priced out of their communities and how Kansas intends to balance economic growth with affordability.
But toward the end of the interview, FOX4 pressed Toland on another issue that has generated growing uncertainty, the future of the Royals.
The Royals, the only major professional sports team based in Missouri whose long-term future remains unsettled, have been the subject of mixed messages from elected officials.
Hundreds of drivers pulled over on US 71 Highway during enforcement effort: KCPD
To date, the organization has not announced a final plan, leaving fans and taxpayers on both sides of the state line searching for answers.
FOX4 asked Lt. Gov. Toland about the possibility of the Royals still moving to Kansas. Here’s what he had to say:
“We think the Kansas City Royals staying in Kansas City, in the metro, and we believe very firmly that Mr. Sherman and the ownership group want to stay in Kansas City, and we hope that there is a path that that can happen,” Toland said.
“We are not in talks with the Royals at the moment,” he continued.
That final statement places a clear marker in the sand, as of now, the state of Kansas and the Royals are not negotiating.
Whether those talks resume remains to be seen, but for the moment, the door is closed.
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While that exchange is important, it represents just a fraction of the broader discussion.
The bulk of the interview centers on the Chiefs deal, what it means for Kansas, how it will be financed and what safeguards are in place for the communities most affected.
FOX4 News will post the full 40-minute conversation on FOX4KC.com on Thursday and key portions will air in our a 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts on Thursday.
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