By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
More than just attempting an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat is on the minds of Kansas City Chiefs executives.
They also are weighing the best options for where the team plays.
“GEHA Field at Arrowhead is a special place,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told reporters earlier during his visit to Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. “It’s special for our fans and it’s special for the players and coaches, but we do have to look to the future.”
Hunt said he is keeping an open mind as the team considers renovations to Arrowhead or moving to a new stadium.
Jackson County voters overwhelmingly rejected a package proposal that would have extended a three-eights cent sales tax to fund renovations to Arrowhead, plus build a new downtown stadium for the Kansas City Royals. Nearly 60% of the voters casting ballots April 2nd voted against the proposal.
It appears the two teams, which have often joined forces, now will take separate paths forward even as a new path has opened.
The Kansas legislature, meeting in special session in Topeka, approved an incentive package aimed at luring either or both teams across the state line in metropolitan Kansas City. Executives of both teams are reviewing those incentives.
As for Hunt, he said the team is seriously considering all options on the table and though he has expressed his love for Arrowhead, those options include building new; perhaps even a domed stadium.
Hunt said he appreciates the Kansas legislature’s initiative.
“Well, part of our evaluation over the next several months and coming years will be looking at whether we’re better off in a renovated building or in a new stadium,” Hunt says. “And that new stadium could be on the Missouri side as well. It doesn’t have to be on the Kansas side.”
Chiefs President Mark Donovan also addressed the issue during a news conference to open Chiefs Training Camp on the Missouri Western State University campus. Donovan struck the same theme, stating the NFL franchise is reviewing its options.
“We are in discussions with the folks in Kansas. We continue our discussions with the folks in Missouri, talking to various leaders. There seems to be other options that are coming up now on the Missouri side. So, we appreciate that,” Donovan said. “And it’s consistent with our strategy, which was if this doesn’t work (the April ballot measure), which was our plan, then we have to look at options and now we’ll have a couple of options to look at.”
Donovan added the window is closing for a decision. The Chiefs president said something fairly solid has to be in place within six months, noting it will take longer if the team chooses to build new, rather than renovate Arrowhead. Donovan said the two projects, renovation versus new construction, are two very different projects. Donovan called this a decision that will impact the club for generations to come.
The Chiefs look to be playing either in a renovated Arrowhead or a new stadium by the 2031 season.
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