Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, has expressed his deep affection for the people of Kansas City amidst rumours that the team may be considering a move from Missouri to Kansas. The Chiefs' lease at Arrowhead Stadium, their home since 1972, is set to expire in 2030, and despite extensive renovations between 2007-2010, the organisation is keen on further improvements.
However, with an estimated cost of $800 million, funding these renovations has become a contentious issue.
The Chiefs have seen a surge in popularity since drafting Mahomes in 2017, winning three Super Bowl championships in the past seven years and drawing larger crowds than ever before. In order to compete with rival stadiums, the Chiefs are eager to upgrade their facilities.
Voters in Jackson County, where Arrowhead is located, recently rejected a sales tax measure that would have partially funded the renovations, prompting the team to consider other options post-2030. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt has hinted that a move to Kansas could be a viable option, but Mahomes has made it clear that he believes the fans should be the priority. His love for the people of Kansas City and his emotional attachment to Arrowhead Stadium suggest he may not be in favour of the potential relocation.
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In a candid chat on the "ImPaulsive" podcast, Patrick Mahomes expressed his deep affection for Kansas City and the unique bond he shares with its residents. "I love it, man. I love the people... The people are what make the city and they embrace you," Mahomes gushed.
"You can walk down the street and people come up and are like 'We love what you do, we love your work' and they want to let you have a great day they're not trying to take pictures. The people make the city."
He also shared his appreciation for the local fans: "I do love the fans. The best part of Kansas City is that they love it but they embrace everybody that comes to the games and they tailgate it. There's not a ton to do so they really enjoy those football games."
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Meanwhile, Kansas is considering changes to its STAR (sales tax and revenue) policy, which could affect major sports teams like the Chiefs and the MLB's Kansas City Royals, especially regarding the construction of stadiums with capacities of 30,000 or more.
Exciting stadium designs have surfaced, thanks to sports architect David Manica, who's collaborating with an undisclosed developer to potentially bring the Chiefs over to Kansas. The proposed designs feature a state-of-the-art domed stadium with a glass roof, showcasing Manica's expertise in stadium innovation.
Manica, the firm involved in the development of the Allegiant Stadium the 2020 relocation site for the Las Vegas Raiders also played a role in the ongoing construction of the new Tennessee Titans stadium. Despite this, there's no clear indication that the Chiefs are looking to vacate Arrowhead Stadium just yet. However, their chairman hasn't dismissed the possibility.
"Arrowhead is a special place for our family and our fan base. That was one of the reasons that we focused on it with the last effort, but going forward it may make more sense for us to be in a new stadium," said Hunt in a statement to ESPN.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.