November 22, 2005
Kick it again, it's not dead yet
Timeline of events this past week regarding a proposed downtown stadium for the Kansas City Royals:
- Last Monday, Jackson County Sports Authority chair Mike Smith declared that a downtown stadium is "a dead dog," and "the quickest way to take down a dead dog is to kick it and stomp it. It's time we start kicking and stomping."
- Last Thursday, Smith and stadium booster Jon Copaken announced plans for a "summit meeting" this week where downtown stadium advocates could present their plans to the sports authority. "Is this walking into a park?" said Smith. "No. If you want something, you have to be able to present it. He'll have a difficult time. I won't argue that."
- Yesterday Smith called off the summit, saying neither Mayor Kay Barnes nor Royals owner David Glass was interested in a downtown stadium. Meanwhile, the Jackson County legislature voted unanimously to bar county funds from going to anything but renovation of the existing Kauffman Stadium, with legislator Dennis Waits declaring that "the Jackson County Legislature does not support [a downtown ballpark] in any way, shape or form. We have a wonderful facility."
With the dog thoroughly stomped, the county is now expected to move forward with an April referendum to approve upgrades to both the Royals' and Chiefs' stadiums. No word yet on how much this would cost or how it would be paid for, though given they're talking about the universe's first-ever two-stadium retractable roof, my guess would be "a lot."
Any word on a new stadium for the Kansas City Wizards? I beleive they are the only KC based team to have won a championship or 2 in the past 10 years.....
Posted by Bertell Ollman on November 22, 2005 11:59 AM
Actually the defunct MISL Attack/Comets won a championship about five years back.
Hunt Sports Group has apparently decided to keep the Wizards at Arrowhead for one more season as terms of a sale to a local group of investors (unveiled this week in the KC Star) are finalized. The big sticking point will be whether or not the new owners can get a stadium deal done. Obviously, they'll attempt to get public money for one, but barring that they'd need to commit to paying for it themselves. The current plan would place a stadium complex, with a hotel and high end retail shops, featuring 20+ youth fields in either Olathe or Lenexa near K-10/I-435.
If a deal/announcement isn't forthcoming by mid-season, my guess is that the Wizards will be sold and relocated for the 2007 season, and the public funds for a soccer stadium problem will be foisted on a new city.
Posted by Andy Mead on November 22, 2005 01:25 PM