Here in KC they have a long awaited vote today to approve a rolling roof over Kaufmann stadium (Royals) as well as Arrowhead stadium. This also includes renovations to both stadiums. The bill is for approx $750 - 850 million dollars. The owners have already threatened to move if it isn't passed and ofcourse LA was mentioned as one of the landing sites. So according to the Hunt family (Lamar), if this bill doesn't get passed...they are the ones that will be moving to LA. Good riddance.
Chiefs, Royals bring out big guns on eve of stadiums voteDOUG TUCKER
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On the eve of a sales tax vote that could decide the fate of professional sports in Kansas City, George Brett and Buck O'Neil sat together under a tree and urged a crowd to vote yes.
Radio stations ran a taped message from NFL hall-of-famer Marcus Allen warning that the Chiefs could wind up in Los Angeles if the two proposals were not adopted.
Even Hollywood got into the act.
Shortly before the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals opened their season Monday in a full, festive stadium, actor Chris Cooper, a Kansas City native and Academy Award winner, made his pitch for passage of the taxes.
In the meantime, a loosely organized cadre of opponents of the three-eighths of a cent sales tax and an accompanying use tax were feeling confident.
"We are very encouraged that supporters of these taxes have been conducting polls," said Richard Tolbert, a Democratic politician and small-business man. "The fact they have not announced the results of those polls tells me their side is losing."
That the vote would be close was one thing they all agreed on.
The sales tax would raise $425 million over 25 years for renovating and refurbishing Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, which opened in 1972 and '73. An additional $50 million would come from the state. Royals owner David Glass would kick in $25 million, and Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt would put in $100 million.
An accompanying use tax would raise an additional $200 million for a rolling roof, which would make both stadiums climate-controlled and assure the city of the 2015 Super Bowl.
Baseball has promised an All-Star game if the stadiums are refurbished, and mayor Kay Barnes says she is optimistic the NCAA would grant a Final Four to its former host city if the rolling roof is fitted over Arrowhead.
If the measures do not pass, the Jackson County Sports Authority would be in violation of a lease agreement promising to maintain the stadiums "in state-of-the-art condition."
After Jan. 1, 2007, both teams would be able to leave.
But would they? Brett, sitting with O'Neil in a picnic area behind center field, said the clubs would "have to explore their options." He pointed out that Kansas City has already lost the NHL and the NBA.
"I used to go to hockey games and to NBA games, and that was fun," he told a small knot of people about two hours before Monday's baseball game. "I would hate for us to lose anything else."
Allen, who spent the last few years of his great career with the Chiefs, told listeners he lives in Los Angeles now and some people there would love to have the Chiefs. The NFL would like a franchise in Los Angeles.
The Royals also seem to have options.
Will Somerindyke of the Norfolk, Va., Baseball Co., said his group had received commitments for 10,000 season tickets in its drive to attract the Montreal Expos. Charlotte and Portland also are interested in gaining a major league team.
"We don't want to see any community lose its team," Somerindyke said. "But yes, we will be watching the developments in Kansas City very closely."
Supporters of the taxes have spent much more money and have been better organized than opponents. But a powerful and relentless voice against the taxes has been WHB, a popular sports talk radio station. WHB has been credited with helping win passage of a proposal to build a downtown arena,and tax supporters worry the station has split support among sports fans, the group they normally could count on most heavily.
However, some opponents acknowledge they are not sports fans at all.
"I have never been to a Chiefs or a Royals game," said Joe Gough, a Republican candidate for Jackson County executive.
Gough also dismisses claims that Kansas City benefits economically from the teams.
"The presence of a major league team has about the same economic impact for a community as a small department store," he said.
Didn't the Jaguars go through basically a complete renovation (essentially rebuilding) of the Gator Bowl not that long ago (hence the reason they got a Super Bowl). I'd be really surprised if they were in play. The Chargers are another matter, I think, given that they haven't gotten a stadium situation worked out and can even boast Los Angeles roots. A segment of the fanbase living north of San Diego might stick with 'em through the move even*.
It's all just a bunch of BS to get the taxpayers to pay for more luxury boxes for the rich folks.
