<\/p>\n
KANSAS CITY, Mo. \u2014 In an exclusive interview with FOX4\u2019s Kansas Capitol Bureau, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says that the minute she feels like there\u2019s a bidding war between her state and Missouri, she\u2019s \u2018out\u2019 on negotiations when it comes to sports teams.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
All Kansas federal lawmakers refusing pay during government shutdown <\/a><\/p>\n Thursday, Kelly told Capitol Bureau Reporter Rebekah Chung that she does not think it\u2019s fair to Kansans for state leaders to get into a bidding war type of approach when it comes to economic development.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you know, you can be sure that, we\u2019ve done a lot of economic development deals in the time that I have been governor,\u201d she told Chung. \u201cWe have vetted every single one of those to ensure that if we\u2019re going to invest this kind of money, we\u2019re going to get a heck of a return on that investment.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly weighed in on Kansas\u2019 stadium incentive plan further<\/a><\/strong>. It would allow the state to cover up to 70% of the cost of a new Chiefs or Royals stadium through STAR bonds.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cYou 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,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cBut it\u2019s always been calculated on, \u2018here\u2019s what we will invest. Here\u2019s what we expect to get back to make Kansas a better place to live.\u2019 And so, we\u2019re doing the same thing with this economic development project. It is no different than any other.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the Chiefs have definitely said they want to stay at Arrowhead, and we\u2019re encouraging them,\u201d Kehoe said. \u201cThey\u2019ve released some plans that would make Arrowhead a legacy facility. Much like Lambeau Field is. So, there\u2019s some really exciting stuff that could happen at the existing site for the Chiefs.\u201d<\/p>\n Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt talked to reporters at about 5 pm Monday before his team took on the Commanders later that night. He said they\u2019re still considering a new stadium or a renovation to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIf we pursued the renovation option, there is a chance that we would be on a ballot next year,\u201d he said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be April, and we haven\u2019t gotten that specific in terms of timing at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n