As Kansas lawmakers gear up for a special session, they are considering a plan to lure the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals to Kansas by financing new stadiums. The proposal involves authorizing state bonds for stadium construction, with the intention of paying them off using revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery, and new tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.
The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri, dating back 170 years, is reigniting as Kansas aims to entice the teams just 25 miles west across the state line. While research suggests that pro sports franchises do not significantly boost local economies, Kansas officials are motivated by the prospect of redirecting spending from Missouri to Kansas.
