Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs could all be on the move.
A Kansas City sports writer believes back-to-back Super Bowl winners will eventually leave Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri and cross state lines to enjoy the comforts of a new state-of-the-art NFL stadium in Kansas.
Blair Kerkhoff, who has written for the Kansas City Star for 35 years and covered the Chiefs, also thinks Major League Baseball’s Royals will stay in Missouri but leave Kauffman Stadium — which hosted the 2015 World Series champions and is known for its flowing fountains – and move downtown.
“What I think is how this is going to play out – through all the twists and turns – I think the Chiefs are going to end up on the Kansas side of the state line,” Kerkhoff told talkSPORT exclusively.
“I think the Royals will find a way to work something out with Jackson County in the city of Kansas City to be in downtown Kansas City.
“Baseball would stay in Missouri. Football (NFL) is moving to Kansas.”
While the Chiefs could still be playing in another state years from now, Kerkhoff joked that it’s already easy to imagine a huge Taylor Swift concert unveiling the sparkling new stadium that would be home to the defending Super Bowl champions.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if things worked out and she opened the place,” he said.
The Chiefs and Royals currently call Kansas City, Missouri home, and their aging but revered stadiums are located within walking distance of each other.
The city of Kansas City is divided between the states of Missouri and Kansas.
“A serious situation”
In April, residents of Jackson County, Missouri, voted against a sales tax measure that would have helped fund a new downtown baseball stadium for the Royals and contributed to major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.
It has reignited a sometimes bitter interstate rivalry that dates back 170 years, as Kansas tries to keep the Chiefs dynasty away from Missouri.
Andy Reid, Mahomes and Kelce could theoretically head to a new stadium that would echo billion-dollar venues such as the Los Angeles Rams/Chargers’ SoFi Stadium and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, which just opened. welcome the exciting Chiefs overtime. win at Super Bowl LVIII,
But overall it would be a massive change for fiercely loyal Chiefs fans.
Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972 and is one of the few iconic old-school stadiums remaining in the NFL.
“It’s a serious situation,” Kerkhoff said. “The Chiefs and Royals’ lease at their current stadiums expires after the 2030 season for baseball and football, so they either need to renew it or come to some sort of deal to stay where they are, or they will. leave.”
It is almost unthinkable for a Premier League team to change cities.
In the NFL, the Rams, Chargers and Raiders have all left their former hometowns behind, as franchises “Kept Up With The Joneses” to stay relevant in the financial market.
The Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, which will host the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul boxing match and will be streamed live on Netflix, and the New York Giants/Jets’ MetLife Stadium are more in line with what the Chiefs might receive in Kansas neighbor.
Kansas City is a relatively small sports market compared to major U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Emotional decisions
The Chiefs aren’t threatening to move to Manhattan or La La Land.
But it looks like they will change states and stadiums if Arrowhead isn’t renovated again.
“It’s a bit of an emotional issue,” Kerkhoff said. “You have lived in the same house for almost 55 years and have now decided that you do not want to make the necessary repairs to your current house and want to purchase a new one.
“It’s going to cost more. However, if that happens, if a new stadium is built, not only will the Chiefs have a new home on par with the best stadiums that have been built in the NFL… but now the Chiefs would have the possibility of organizing other events, assuming they put a roof on it.
“Maybe an NCAA Final Four will be held in Kansas City. Maybe winter concerts can be held in Kansas City.”
Chiefs President Mark Donovan previously threatened that the team could leave Kansas City if the April tax vote failed.
“We were ready to extend the long-standing partnership the teams have had with this county,” Donovan said. “This is important. We will do and seek to do what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”
Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu tweeted “SMH” after the bill failed.
Fans have fought back by saying the Chiefs — valued at $4.3 billion, according to Forbes — should finance their own new stadium during tough economic times.
“Tell (CEO) Clark (Hunt) to do really useful renovations, not improve suites for his rich friends,” one fan tweeted.
Arrowhead Stadium gave Mahomes, Kelce and Reid one of the best home field advantages in the NFL in years.
If the Chiefs cross state lines and switch allegiance to Kansas while leaving their old home of Missouri behind, a lot will change for the new football dynasty.
“I know the team likes to think of Arrowhead as an iconic stadium,” Kerkhoff said. “For me, maybe not in the area of Lambeau (Field) or Soldier Field. But it’s been there since 1972. They’ve had a lot of success in that ballpark the last few years.
“It has developed a reputation as the loudest stadium and there is a wonderful atmosphere there. You leave that behind to build a new home across the border, so there will be a sense of loss. “