Kansas Lawmakers Set to Discuss Chiefs’ Future Amid Stadium Uncertainty
As the clock ticks toward 2031-the year both the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals can opt to leave their current home at the Truman Sports Complex-momentum is building on both sides of the state line. And next week, Kansas lawmakers could take a major step in shaping the future of professional sports in the region.
Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes confirmed that the Chiefs will likely be on the agenda for Monday’s Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) meeting in Topeka. While nothing is set in stone, the meeting could offer the clearest indication yet of Kansas’ intentions-and capabilities-when it comes to luring the Super Bowl champions across the border.
If the Chiefs were to make the move, the leading candidate for a new stadium site appears to be in the area surrounding the Legends shopping district and Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County. That location has long been viewed as a potential sports and entertainment hub, and Monday’s meeting could shed light on whether it’s the frontrunner.
On Friday morning, Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland was spotted entering the Department of Commerce building in Overland Park. He’s one of the key figures working behind the scenes to craft a deal that could bring both the Chiefs and Royals to Kansas. If negotiations progress quickly, the LCC could be in position to vote on a proposal as early as Monday.
Kansas House Representative Sean Tarwater, who played a role in advancing the STAR Bonds legislation earlier this year, spoke about the unfolding situation this week. According to Tarwater, his initial expectation was that the Royals would land in Wyandotte County-not at the Aspiria Campus in Johnson County, which has also been floated as a possible site.
But a recent visit to The Battery-the Atlanta Braves’ mixed-use development in suburban Atlanta-appears to have influenced his thinking.
“I’m talking about the eastern portion of Wyandotte County, where they really need the development,” Tarwater said. “The western portion has plenty and might even have more later.”
While Tarwater didn’t provide specifics, his comments suggest that Kansas officials are weighing not just the economic impact of a stadium move, but how best to use it to boost underserved parts of the state.
So far, neither the Chiefs nor Royals have commented on where they’d prefer to play long-term. But the silence hasn’t stopped officials in Missouri from making their pitch to keep the teams right where they are.
On Friday, Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota reaffirmed the county’s commitment to keeping the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Jackson County-not Kansas City itself-owns the Truman Sports Complex, and LeVota is pushing for a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund a major renovation of Arrowhead.
That proposal would be a scaled-back version of what voters rejected in 2024: a sales tax extension that would’ve helped fund an $800 million Arrowhead renovation and a $2 billion new ballpark for the Royals in the Crossroads Arts District. The failure of that initiative cast serious doubt on Missouri’s ability to finance new facilities without voter support.
Back in Kansas, the clock is ticking. Monday’s LCC meeting comes just ahead of a critical December 31 deadline to approve the use of STAR Bonds-an economic development tool that allows the state to finance up to 70% of a stadium’s construction costs through sales tax revenue generated by the project.
With that deadline looming, Monday could be a turning point in one of the most high-stakes off-field battles in pro sports: keeping-or stealing-an NFL franchise.
One thing is clear: both states are gearing up for a showdown. And just like on Sundays, the Chiefs are at the center of it all.