Chiefs, Royals critical of county executive in new letter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The committee to Keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County sent out a letter to county legislators Monday, critical of Democratic County Executive Frank White and how he’s handled the stadium issue for both teams.

“For two and a half years, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals attempted to directly engage in constructive conversation with County Executive Frank White about the future of our teams in Jackson County, and for two and a half years, we have been met repeatedly with barriers to progress,” the committee said.

WDAF-TV spent about two hours inside the county courthouse before the statement came out from the committee. We did not see White. We also made a phone call to his Spokeswoman, Marshanna Smith, after the release came out. We have not heard back.

Earlier in the day, WDAF-TV obtained a copy of the Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) that are now in the hands of the Jackson County Legislators.

One of the legislators WDAF-TV interviewed was Democrat Manny Abarca, who seemed happy with what the Royals and Chiefs have apparently agreed to should voters say yes to the sales tax question on April 2.

Each team’s CBA has a Jackson County Community Fund in it. As part of that, the Royals promise to give back $3.5 million a year during their new lease term. The Chiefs plan to give back $2 million a year.

Boards would oversee the money each team gives back. Then those board members get to decide which non-profits end up getting the money.

“That total fund is net new dollars in addition to the historic giving both teams are giving at $3 million dollars annually as a new productive benefit for Jackson Countians,” Abarca said Monday.

In Abarca’s office is a book with the stadium leases in the previous negotiations.

“There were zero dollars committed from either team in the 2006 leases for anything like this,” he continued.

Fellow Jackson County Legislator and Republican Sean Smith wonders why the county needs to be involved with that community fund though.

“I’d really like to see us disconnect the politics that are inherent in government roles away from the good that those organizations can do,” Smith said in an interview with FOX4.

One thing Abarca says that’s new in the Chiefs CBA is a transportation piece that could allow the Chiefs to construct up to four bus stops at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

According to the CBA, the Chiefs would discuss with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) whether it’s feasible to have fans and workers uses those buses to get to the stadium in the future. Abarca says that that’s not currently in place.

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