KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ planned move to Kansas to build a $3 billion stadium and surrounding area was celebrated Monday at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, but Kansas City, Mo., City Hall had a different take on the announcement.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said conversations with the team continued into late last week. Negotiating partners Jackson County and the state of Missouri submitted a very responsible taxpayer-backed fiscal proposal, and Kansas has come up with a stronger public financing package so far, he said.
Timeline: How the Kansas City Chiefs crossed state lines to reach Kansas
“Business decisions are realities and we all understand that, but Arrowhead Stadium is more important — it’s family, tradition and a part of Kansas City that we’ll never leave,” Lucas said.
Lucas said he received calls Monday from Chiefs President Mark Donovan and Kelly informing him of the team’s plans to leave Arrowhead when its lease ends in 2030.
“As a Kansas citizen, former Chiefs season ticket holder and lifelong Chiefs fan, today is a setback. Today is a loss for the communities of East Kansas City, Independence, Raytown and some of our favorite places on the way to the stadium like LC’s Barbecue. Today is a loss for the Arrowhead tradition that many of us in Chiefs Kingdom hold dear,” Lucas said in prepared remarks an hour after the Chiefs announcement.
Lucas admitted he wished things were different when then-County Executive Frank White presided over stadium discussions and did not support the sales tax extension, which was ultimately voted down by Jackson County voters in April 2024.
He said he believes the state of Missouri and local leaders made a very responsible financial proposal and remains committed to making sure Missouri Arrowhead Stadium, Jackson County and Kansas City remain an option if the deal falls through.
“We visited these teams non-stop throughout the process in 2023, 2024 and after the election. We made sure they knew we were going to work and did everything we could to make sure they stayed. Unfortunately, the City Council and I were unable to create the STAR bond,” Lucas said.
Where will the Chiefs’ training facility, stadium be located?
That begs the question, as teams weigh their opportunities in Overland Park, could the Kansas City Royals be the next team to cross state lines?
Lucas acknowledged that the long-standing truce on the Kansas/Missouri border had resumed.
“I think we’re facing intense competition with local jurisdictions, with our neighbors in border communities, and I think that’s going to be incredibly unfortunate for Kansas City in the long term,” Lucas said. “But I think we’re going to have to coexist with Kansas City and we’re going to do our best to compete for the best businesses in Kansas City and serve every entity that may be in the region or elsewhere.”
Lucas said he still believes Missouri is in a good position to continue negotiations with the Royals, but reiterated his previous stance not to negotiate the terms of any agreement publicly.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
