By Jayson Henderson

The Kansas legislature passed a bill on June 18, 2024, that could fund a new Royals stadium. The legislation permits Kansas to issue Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds to cover up to 70% of stadium costs for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. This would be the largest STAR bond project. The bonds would be repaid over 30 years through sales tax revenue from the stadiums, surrounding development, sports wagering revenue, and lottery revenue. Both teams support the legislation. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is expected to sign the bill. Missouri leaders hope to continue negotiations to keep the teams in the state. The teams’ current leases expire in 2031. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed concerns about the legislation, while Kelly emphasized the potential economic benefits for Kansas.