<\/p><\/div> An aerial view showing renderings of a possible CPKC Stadium expansion. The Kansas City Current has made the venue its home since the start of the 2024 NWSL season.<\/p>\n Kansas City Current\/Gensler<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n A citizen-led initiative petition seeking to force a vote on a new Royals stadium<\/u><\/a> may also affect the city\u2019s newest plan to help the Kansas City Current expand its riverfront stadium.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The proposed ordinance, backed by the petition from Missouri Workers Power, an affiliate of progressive labor advocacy groups Missouri Workers Center and Stand Up KC, could be worded broadly enough to also include the City Council\u2019s second plan this year to help finance a stadium project in the city.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The City Council on Thursday approved an ordinance<\/u><\/a> that allows the city to negotiate a public financing deal with the women\u2019s soccer team\u2019s officials and its partner developers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The proposal offers up to $235 million<\/u><\/a> of bond financing to help expand the Current\u2019s stadium, build a new parking structure and improve infrastructure for the ongoing development of the riverfront. Any deal negotiated between team officials and the city will need to come back to the City Council for final approval.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the same meeting, the petition supporting the proposed ordinance requiring public votes on stadium projects was formally introduced to the City Council. Council members can consider the proposal for 60 days before it can be placed on the ballot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If approved by voters, the proposed ordinance<\/u><\/a> would prohibit the city from providing support for the design or construction of a stadium, arena or similar venue with a seating capacity of 2,500 or more without a public vote. That means a stadium project using public funding would need to be approved by voters before it could commence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Missouri Workers Power said in an email to The Star on Thursday that the proposed ordinance could affect the Current\u2019s stadium expansion, but the group\u2019s focus is the baseball stadium planned to be the Royals\u2019 new home in the Crown Center area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The group added that it is concerned that the city is considering another plan to subsidize development projects for private businesses using taxpayer dollars. The group said those funds could be used for more pressing issues like community services, and that\u2019s why the city\u2019s residents should get to vote on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKansas City taxpayers can\u2019t afford to be a piggy bank for private profits, and at the very least they deserve a say in how these funds are allocated,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, it\u2019s possible \u2014 like the city\u2019s plans for the Royals stadium \u2014 that the proposed ordinance won\u2019t be enacted in time<\/u><\/a> to stop the stadium expansion project. City officials have said that the earliest the petition\u2019s proposed ordinance could appear on the ballot is this November.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lucas has suggested that the city\u2019s deal with the Royals could be finalized before then. But he acknowledged that other future projects could be subjected to it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis train\u2019s already left the station,\u201d Lucas said of the Royals stadium project. \u201cI think we\u2019ll get the necessary documents and deals signed, and a vote that comes after the fact, while incredibly interesting and perhaps detrimental to future projects in Kansas City, will not impact one where you\u2019re already seeing movement.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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\n <\/span><\/p>\n![\"Terrence](\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/public\/latest-news\/amlnaa\/picture315438469\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/KCM_DSC_2901.JPG\" "\\"KCM_DSC_2901.JPG\\"")
Is it too late?<\/h2>\n