Phil LeVota, the Executive of Jackson County, made it clear on Friday that the county is still fighting to keep the Kansas City Chiefs at the Truman Sports Complex. This comes amid growing rumors about a potential move to Kansas, especially with reports indicating the Chiefs’ involvement in a legislative meeting on Monday in Kansas. LeVota was adamant, stating that, in his opinion, nothing is final yet.
“Kansas may have some ambitious plans, but they don’t have a concrete proposal,” LeVota said. “Missouri does. Our plan is for Jackson County, Missouri.”
According to LeVota, Chiefs President Mark Donovan confirmed that no deal has been reached yet. With that, Jackson County is pushing forward with its efforts to secure the team’s future in the area.
As part of this strategy, LeVota introduced a ballot initiative for April 2026. The plan, called “Operation Save Arrowhead,” aims to lower sales taxes in Jackson County by 2031 and raise funds for a major renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. The proposal would reduce the sales tax from 3/8 cent to 1/4 cent.
This move would also result in the Kansas City Royals no longer being tenants of the Truman Sports Complex, although LeVota expressed his ongoing commitment to keeping the Royals in Jackson County. However, reports suggest that the Royals have shown little interest in staying at the current location.
The Chiefs are expected to contribute $400 million toward the renovation, a commitment that LeVota said the team has made, provided the plan moves forward. Additionally, the state of Missouri, through the Show-Me Sports Investment Act, and the city of Kansas City would also provide funding, although the exact amounts haven’t been disclosed.
While the Chiefs have not yet officially agreed to this plan, LeVota emphasized that talks are still ongoing. The proposal requires cooperation from several stakeholders, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson County, Missouri, and the city of Kansas City, all of whom seem aligned with this vision.
Jackson County voters previously rejected a tax increase to keep the Chiefs, a result not overlooked by LeVota. However, he is hopeful that, with changes in government and the plan to lower taxes, voters will be more supportive this time. “I’m confident that voters will overwhelmingly approve this ballot initiative, not only extending the tax but lowering it,” LeVota said. “We will reduce the tax and keep the Chiefs here.”
Kansas officials have also confirmed that discussions are ongoing on their side, though no final agreement has been made. The Kansas Department of Commerce stated, “While no deal is in place yet, this could be a huge economic win for Kansas, benefiting the state for generations. We are aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”
