In a bold move to attract the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas legislature has presented a new legislative bond package that aims to finance the construction of new stadiums. If approved, this package could potentially sway the two professional sports teams to relocate to the other side of the state line.

The bill, which targets professional sports teams, is set to invest a minimum of $1 billion in two stadium projects. These projects will have a seating capacity of 30,000 seats or more. To fund these ambitious undertakings, the Kansas legislature plans to utilize STAR bonds, providing the teams with 100% financing for up to 30 years. The total investment for these projects is expected to range between $2-3 billion.

The proposal caught the attention of Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who responded by emphasizing Missouri's determination to remain competitive. Governor Parson acknowledged the necessity of competing with other states to attract businesses, stating, "They are big business, and we want to do everything we can to keep them here because it'll have a huge impact on our state."

However, Governor Parson refrained from naming any specific financing tools or strategies that Missouri would employ to retain the teams. He recognized the importance of the Kansas teams in the fabric of the state, remarking, "They're a longtime part of who we are in Missouri. And you know, just like any other thing, we're going to be competitive."

Meanwhile, in the proposed budget by the Missouri legislature, no funding has been included to incentivize the Chiefs and Royals to remain within the state. With the Missouri legislature's final day approaching on May 17, the decision on whether Missouri will provide financial backing to keep the teams remains uncertain.

This proposed bond package represents a significant opportunity for Kansas to transform its sports landscape and secure the presence of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. However, the outcome ultimately rests on the decisions of both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures and the competitive strategies implemented by each state to retain these cherished sports franchises.