UPDATE: January 15 – County commissioner and Royals Hall of Famer Frank White released a statement on Jan. 18th stating that he was vetoing the decision to include the extension of the sales tax on the upcoming ballet. White states that the ordinance “requires deeper reflection and negotiation” before it moves onto a public vote. He continues later in the statement that there must be a more “robust agreement” and a stronger plan on how $2 billion in public funding will be used before it is committed. Finally, he mentions that he will not support a plan until it not only establishes the retention of the two teams in Jackson County but lays out clear economic benefits for the county.
UPDATE: January 8 – The Chiefs and Royals stadium sales tax extension was placed onto the Jackson County Legislature Agenda for a vote. The Chiefs and Royals organizations say they have offered more than $200 million to the county over a 40-year lease. Jackson County Legislator, Frank White, requested that Jackson County receive $25 million annually to offset the county’s stadium contributions. The stadium agenda passed with an 8-1 vote on Monday. The passed vote now opens a ten-day window where White could still veto the agenda item.
On January 5th, The Royals released a joint statement with their neighbors, the Kansas City Chiefs, further urging the voters of Jackson County to approve the continuation of the ⅜ cent sales tax.
Separating from recent tactics, they partner with the Chiefs who have been speculated to be also looking at a move. While these rumors have been driven solely by the fans, this statement may ease some minds moving forward. As stated by both teams in the joint release, they are committed to staying in Jackson County, Missouri if the sales tax is approved yet again.
New information has been included in the statement regarding the budget and how money can move back into the community. It establishes that money generated by the tax will go towards renovating Arrowhead in its existing location and building the new Royals stadium district downtown. While the public still awaits the naming of its exact new location, it is instead traded for new ways for the Royals to alleviate some of the costs. Namely, with the $1 billion ballpark district that will accompany any new construction being privately funded by the team.
On the budget side, there are also new ways the Royals intend to help put money back into the county. The Royals and Chiefs announced that they would begin paying insurance fees for the extension of the Chiefs’ lease, and the new term of the Royals’ lease. While this is a short-term injection of funding into Jackson County, it frees up $80-$100 million that the county was previously paying. The new agreement would also free up $140 million in the short term, with both teams relinquishing their share of property tax from the stadium to be put into other aspects of the county. Finally, the statement mentions a community benefits agreement that mirrors other agreements around the MLB and NFL.
What this boils down to
It appears to be an olive branch to the fans. The Royals have heard the community and are taking steps to meet them at their level. Throughout the past year, fans sent resounding feedback to spend on the team before the taxpayers spend on a stadium.
The Royals spent during an off-season following the World Series in 2015, to the tune of $178 million. That spending — that included Alex Gordon, Ian Kennedy, Joakim Soria, and Chris Young — never resulted in another season that matched the success of their 2014-2015 seasons. The team spent big before the 2021 season as well, hitting around $121 million. Most of that money went toward a Salvador Perez extension. With only two seasons of spending in recent memory and little success resulting from it, they look to change the public perception. This offseason, the front office has looked to show that they are willing to fulfill their side of the deal on the field. They’ve committed $109.7 million on multiple big pitching free agents and a couple of bats.
While it only comes into effect if the voters approve a sales tax extension, the statement offers a few short-term economic benefits. Paired with the highest paying offseason by the Royals in years, steps are being made to repair fractured fan support for a new stadium.