After a contentious campaign, voters in Jackson County, Missouri resoundingly rejected a plan for new facilities for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. The unofficial results show the measure failing by a 58%-42% vote margin.
The ballot initiative would have funded a new stadium for the Royals in the East Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City, an area known for arts, boutique shops, restaurants, breweries, and entertainment. For the Chiefs, it would have provided renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.
...
While the Chiefs weren’t eyeing a new location, they did intend for an $800 million upgrade to their existing facility. The package would’ve included new tailgating areas outside the stadium and improvements to the concourse. It would’ve utilized the area currently occupied by Kaufman Stadium, home of the Royals, since that would’ve been demolished when they built the new ballpark downtown.
Of course, nothing comes for free. Even though proponents of the referendum cited no new taxes, but that’s only half true. A 0.375% sales tax on Jackson County residents that was set to expire would’ve been extended by another 40 years, generating $2 billion to pay for the stadiums.
