The Chiefs suddenly face an uncertain future in Kansas City.
Despite winning back-to-back Super Bowls and constructing the NFL’s newest dynasty, the Chiefs could leave Arrowhead Stadium and their home city after a controversial funding bill failed.
Taylor Swift could be forced to eventually watch Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes in a new city, while the long-term future of MLB‘s Kansas City Royals has also been thrown into question.
The Chiefs are the most dominant franchise in the NFL and the Royals were one of MLB’s best teams during the previous decade.
But Kansas City is a relatively small sports market compared to major American cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Residents of Jackson County, Missouri voted against a sales tax measure that would have helped fund a new downtown ballpark for the Royals and contributed to major renovations of Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan had previously threatened that the team could leave Kansas City if the vote failed.
Now it has, and the Chiefs must decide how to move forward.
While Arrowhead is viewed as one of the best homefield environments in the NFL, the stadium opened in 1972 and has already been renovated.
It’s far behind modern stadiums belonging to the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, and New York Giants and Jets.
“We respect the process. We respect the decision of the Jackson County voters,” Donovan said. “We’re disappointed. We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County.
“We were ready to extend the longstanding partnership that the teams have enjoyed with this county. This is important. . . . We will do and look to do what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”
Veteran Chiefs defender Charles Omenihu tweeted “SMH” after the bill failed.
Fans hit back, saying that the Chiefs — who are valued at $4.3 billion, according to Forbes— should fund their own new stadium during challenging economic times.
“We love you as a player but you maybe want to sit this one out if you haven’t been a Jackson County taxpayer your whole life,” one fan tweeted.
“Tell (Chiefs Chairman and CEO) Clark (Hunt) to make some actual useful renovations, not upgrades to the suites for his rich friends,” a second fan posted.
“Those ‘upgrades’ weren’t for us average fans or season ticket members,” a third fan wrote.
The Chiefs heavily pushed their attempt to get the bill passed and tried to use their Super Bowl champion status to their advantage.
Referring to Arrowhead Stadium as the “loudest in the world,” the Chiefs touted being a four-time Super Bowl champion while playing off fan devotion to announce “concepts for a complete re-imagination and renovation of Arrowhead Stadium that will move the iconic stadium into the future.”
“For more than five decades, Arrowhead Stadium has been the home of the Chiefs, and a home for so many of our fans,” Hunt said. “This is where generations of Chiefs fans fell in love with the game.
“History has been written here, legends have been born here, and lifelong memories have been made within these walls. The stadium has become part of the fabric of our community.
“Today we are excited to share our plans to extend the life of Arrowhead for future generations of Chiefs fans.”
Fans were less than impressed.
Now the Chiefs must make the next move, with their NFL future suddenly hanging in the balance.
“A billion dollars for some parking lots and suites for the rich,” one fan tweeted. “Insult of a proposal. Mr. Hunt needs to step it up. I say propose a brand (new) stadium and new player training facilities.”
“This is one of the oldest stadiums,” a second fan tweeted. “Buffalo is getting a new stadium and Green Bay has continued to invest in renovations. The Chiefs belong in KC, I am hoping Chiefs and the city and state can work it out.”