Clay County leader speaks on Royals deal: ‘Hundreds of miles apart'

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a day ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Day three of Missouri's Special Session invaded day four as the State Senate approved a stadium finance package to try to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Missouri. It came in the early hours of Thursday morning, with a vote coming just before 2:30 a.m.
Late in 2023, the Royals had publicly narrowed down their stadium sites to two, one in the East Village of Kansas City, Mo., within the downtown loop. The other was in North Kansas City, Mo. and Clay County.
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Then, in February of 2024 and right before the team's April vote, the Royals decided they were going to try to build their ballpark at a different location, the East Crossroads of downtown Kansas City, and south of the downtown loop. The joint vote with a Chiefs renovation at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium failed by 16%.
Fast forward to June of 2025 and Clay County leaders are still expressing support for a North Kansas City ballpark. Tuesday, June 3, Clay County Commissioner Scott Wagner and Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte both testified in the Committee on Fiscal Oversight. They wanted that committee to pass Senate Bill 3, known as the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The committee ended up passing it 6-3.
Two days later, FOX4 talked to Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington. He said the last time his entity had negotiations with the Royals was in 2023, right before the team decided they weren't going to try to build in Clay County or in the East Village of Kansas City, Mo.
'I just want to make sure people understand that, I know, my phone's been blowing up. 'Oh, we're one step closer to getting the team.' Man, we're still hundreds of miles apart,' Withington said Thursday.
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Regardless, the Missouri House of Representatives returns Monday to try to pass the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The House already passed that bill at the end of May, but it died in the State Senate, which just approved it Thursday morning.
Jackson County Executive Frank White released the following statement on the Show-Me Sports Investment Act on Thursday, June 5:
For more than 50 years, Jackson County has proudly supported the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, shouldering the majority of the financial responsibility that has helped keep both teams rooted in our community. Each year, our taxpayers contribute more than $54 million to support the teams – more than the County currently spends combined on parks and playgrounds, roads and bridges, and our public health department. This significant investment reflects our long-standing commitment, but it also underscores the need to balance that support with the many other responsibilities we carry as a county.
While it has been an honor to uphold that legacy, it's time for a new chapter, one where Jackson County no longer carries the burden alone. From the beginning of this process, I've been clear: the path forward must include a more equitable sharing of responsibility.
The stadium funding plan passed by the Missouri Senate moves us in that direction. It opens the door to meaningful relief for Jackson County taxpayers and creates the opportunity to invest in the essential services our residents rely on every day, from public safety and health care to critical infrastructure, all without increasing taxes.
We remain committed to working with our partners at every level to support a future that is more balanced, more sustainable, and ultimately more fair for the people of Jackson County.
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