Debate held on potential Royals downtown stadium
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two former Kansas City politicians squared off in a debate Monday illuminating the pros and cons of supporting an upcoming sales tax for the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs stadium projects.
Former Mayor Sly James is leading the charge to pass the tax on April 2 and fund the stadium projects.
‘This is the largest public private partnership in the history of the county,” James told the standing room only crowd at the Red Bridge Branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library.
Former Kansas City Councilwoman Becky Nace is leading the opposition against it as Chair of the Committee Against New Royals Stadium Taxes.
James and Nace don’t agree on much when it comes to a 3/8 cent sales tax for the Chiefs and Royals. In fact they argue whether it’s an extension or a new replacement tax.
Some fans are worried what happens if the tax doesn’t pass.
“We lost the soccer stadium, what did that cost us? We lost the racetrack, what did that cost us,” one man asked pointing to Children’s Mercy Park and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.
“They all say the economic benefit is minimal because its offset by the taxpayer subsidy,” Nace answered.
But James says the teams generate $930 million annually. But it’s not just about the money. He says the teams could leave Kansas City if voters don’t support the tax.
“We’d lose pride, we’d lose opportunity, we’d lose money, we’d lose the prestige from being a big league city across the country,” James said.
“Fans have supported the two teams for 50 years and in return for that what do we get every time their lease is up? Give us what we want or we are going to leave,” Nace said.
Nace, travelled to Jefferson City with the teams in support of funding the last time around in 2006, but now is against the tax and says she has no idea if that state funding will come. She’s also worried there’s no signed lease agreement or community benefits agreement. Things she says developers of Power and Light provided when she was on city council.
“None of those questions have been answered and it amounts to a blank check at this point,” she said.
The biggest project during James’ tenure was the new single terminal at KCI.
“When we did the airport the community benefits agreement wasn’t finished for months afterwards because there were so many other things to work out,” James said.
Much also is to be worked out for the Royals downtown stadium. James says some of those answers could come out this week when he thinks the Jackson County Sports Authority will finalize the lease. But there were county legislators in the audience making it known they haven’t seen that lease, and the county executive is the one who’ll first have to approve it.
