Historic agreement secures Chiefs' future in Kansas
Gov. Kelly signs bipartisan STAR bonds legislation funding new stadium and training facility
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas City Chiefs are one step closer to calling the Sunflower State home.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday signed House Bill 2466, establishing the Kansas Sports Facilities Authority Act and clearing the way for a $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County. The sweeping economic development package extends the Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds program to finance the NFL franchise's new home, which is slated to open for the 2031 season.
The public-private partnership also includes a new team headquarters and training facility in Olathe. Both sites are expected to feature mixed-use developments with entertainment, dining, shopping and residential properties.
Kelly said the deal will create thousands of jobs without raising state taxes or diverting funding from essential services.
"The Kansas City Chiefs' historic agreement with the State of Kansas is monumental for our economy, creating thousands of new jobs," Kelly said. "We're turning Kansas into a premier destination for sports and entertainment, without raising state taxes or taking funding away from essential services."
The newly created Kansas Sports Facilities Authority will govern the facilities, overseen by an 11-member voting board of state and local appointees. Lawmakers from both parties praised the deal's structure and the estimated $4.4 billion economic impact from the construction phase alone.
"This bipartisan legislation establishes a responsible path forward that brings the Chiefs to Kansas while ensuring the state's investment is carefully structured and protected," said Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Overland Park, who represents District 27 in Johnson County.
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