KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All signs point to Monday as an important day in the ongoing battle among Kansas and Missouri officials for the future home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
It's bittersweet news for fans on both sides of the state line.
"It just seems like Kansas is just coming over and plucking businesses, trying to grab professional sports teams and piggy back off the success of the city of Kansas City, Missouri has had," Ryan Chapman, a Chiefs fan from St. Louis told KSHB 41 Sunday.
The Kansas Department of Commerce said Thursday it was “aggressively pursuing the opportunity" to lure the Chiefs' stadium and facilities to Kansas.
The Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council, or LCC, will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday in Topeka to review developments tied to a special economic development tool known as STAR Bonds.
"Stick with what we got now. I love it," said 15-year-old Chiefs fan Benjamin Tebbe from Leawood, Kansas. "We don’t need to waste our money on it. Let’s put it to better things."
During the summer, the LCC set a Dec. 31 deadline after extending the original deadline for an enhanced STAR Bonds offer approved by the legislature in 2024, which increases the amount of a project financed by the tax-redirection tool from 50% to 70% for qualifying professional stadiums.
KSHB 41 News reporter Ryan Gamboa has confirmed that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has called for a 3 p.m. press conference regarding a special announcement after the LCC meeting concludes.
Gamboa took that news to fans at taking in the holiday festivities are Union Station on Sunday and many were in disbelief.
"I know it’s a metro area, and we love the metro area but as far as a location they need to be on the Jackson County side," shared Patricia Adams from Kansas City, Missouri.
"I like if for Kansas, but I hate to see Arrowhead go," added TJ Turner from Wamego, Kansas with mixed feelings. "The team has earned the right to a new stadium and building off what they’ve already done."
Kansas Senate President and LCC Chair Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, said in a statement last week to KSHB 41 News that the LCC would not be reviewing any proposals related to a possible future Royals stadium on Monday.
"As their location proposal continues to evolve, it will not be finalized or considered this year or during the upcoming legislative session," Masterson said, in part.
Amid reports from Kansas about the Chiefs' future, officials in Missouri scrambled to react.
Recently appointed Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota announced Operation Save Arrowhead during a news conference Friday.
"Kansas has some lofty ideas, but no plan. Missouri does," LeVota told members of the media on Friday. "The Chiefs have not said yes, but the Chiefs are still talking. The Chiefs love Arrowhead Stadium. And the people of Jackson County, and the people of Missouri, and the people of Kansas City love the Chiefs."
If approved by the Jackson County Legislature, it would put another sales-tax vote before the county's voters in April.
Jackson County voters rejected an extension of the existing 3/8-cent sales tax in April 2024, which opened the door for Kansas to try and poach the teams.
A spokesperson for Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said state officials have “remained in frequent communication with the Royals and the Chiefs to keep them in Missouri.”
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Sunday the city continues to work to retain the teams.
The City, the State of Missouri, and the new executive team at Jackson County have continued negotiations with our teams through this week. Kansas City and its partners have made compelling but reasonable offers north of $1.5 billion with identifiable and backed sources of funds to maintain the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium while updating its facilities to remain among the finest in the National Football League and the World.
“Any decision to depart from such a legacy home would have no reflection on the outstanding people of Kansas City and Jackson County who for 50 years have given their passion, energy and public investment into building the Chiefs into one of American’s finest sports brands. We’ll reserve further comment until we hear from the Kansas City Chiefs.
The mayor's spokesperson issued a regularly-scheduled email Sunday night outlining the mayor's schedule for the week.
The schedule includes a potential 4 p.m. news conference on Monday regarding "sports team developments."
Lamar Hunt moved the Chiefs to Kansas City before the 1963 season, while the Royals were established in 1969. Neither team has ever played in a home stadium outside KCMO.
"When Lamar Hunt chose Kansas City, along with Mayor Bartle, and they named the Chiefs after him, paying homage to him — Mayor Bartle's nickname was Chief. He was the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas City, Kansas," Royals fan Chapman. "It’s an icon of the NFL. It’s one of the few standing stadiums that was here when the AFL and NFL merger came together... What I don’t like to see is when you take other people’s stuff and call it your own. It’s not theirs and they want it to be theirs. There’s no other way to do it but to take it."
A Chiefs spokesperson told KSHB 41 News on Friday the team had no comment regarding a possible move to Kansas or the substance of Monday's LCC meeting.
KSHB 41 political reporter Charlie Keegan will offer coverage from Topeka throughout Monday. Look for updates on KSHB.com and in KSHB 41 newscasts.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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