Kansas City Royals ‘gone' without Missouri funding bill: Former lobbyist

Yahoo

15-05-2025

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A late bid by Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe to get a stadium finance bill passed in the legislature ran headlong into bipartisan opposition in the State Senate late Tuesday afternoon.
The State House easily passed the package, which would use tax revenues generated by the stadiums to pay off bonds. Minutes after it crossed the rotunda, though, it stalled.
Wednesday in the metro, Democratic County Executive Frank White would not comment on the situation at the state capitol.
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White was on the 'vote no' side of the April 2024 sales tax election to try to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Jackson County.
'I think that the Governor and Jefferson City [were] waiting for some leadership from Jackson County, from Kansas City, from somewhere, and they didn't get it,' Former Missouri Lobbyist and Former Chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Committee Phil LeVota said.
'So, they decided they need to do something, so this is going to be the general assembly either saves the Chiefs and the Royals or loses them.'
The Chiefs wouldn't comment on Tuesday or Wednesday.
'The Kansas City Royals organization appreciates the dedicated efforts of the Missouri Legislature to pass this legislation,' the Kansas City Royals said Tuesday.
'We are grateful to Speaker of the House Jon Patterson and the Missouri House for recognizing the longstanding partnership the Royals organization has had with the State of Missouri and the Greater Kansas City region.
This legislation is an important piece as we consider options for our team's future home. We will review it in detail, toward fully understanding the important opportunities it presents.
As we've said, we look forward to making a decision that is in the best interests of our team, our fans, our partners, and our regional community. We remain grateful to the State of Missouri for putting forth their best proposal, and for their continued leadership and partnership.'
LeVota has been critical of White. In April, he said he'd be interested in the Interim County Executive position if White got recalled.
'I think if this doesn't happen, the Royals are gone,' LeVota said.
'Chiefs, who knows what they're going to do, but this is a big thing that could keep them in Missouri, and if not, they could leave.'
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However, Former Chief of Staff to Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton, Chris Benjamin, says he does not see this as a 'be-all end-all' for the Royals in the Show-Me State. In June, Kansas approved using Sales Tax and Revenue Bonds to try to compel either team to hop the state line and move to the Sunflower State.
'I mean those STAR Bonds over in Kansas, I mean we're going into a year that that was kind of offered up to the table, and it hasn't been accepted,' Benjamin said.
LeVota says the State House not taking up a vote on a $500 million bill that would have benefited state schools, hospitals, and police departments which the State Senate passe,d is part of the reason why there's a lack of progress in the State Senate when it comes to this sports funding bill now.
'One Senator said publicly, 'There's not a House Bill that's going to come through this Senate until we're done,'' LeVota added.
The Missouri state legislature must gavel out no later than 6 p.m. Friday. Governor Kehoe could call a special session if the sports funding bill doesn't pass.
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