Not a happy camper:

Rick Brattin (r) [2025 file photo].

Yesterday:

Senator Rick Brattin
District 31

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For Immediate Release:
December 22, 2025

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State Senator Rick Brattin Responds to
Kansas City Chiefs’ Decision to Leave Missouri

(Jefferson City, MO) – State Senator Rick Brattin issued the following statement today in response to the Kansas City Chiefs’ to relocate operations out of Missouri:

‘Missouri taxpayers have been loyal to he Kansas City Chiefs for decades. That loyalty was real, tangible, and costly. It was expressed in public dollars, public infrastructure, and a willingness time and again to support a franchise that benefitted enormously from being based in Missouri.

The chiefs’ decision to leave Missouri despite that history is deeply disappointing and profoundly disrespectful.

Missourians did not simply cheer from the stands. They helped build Arrowhead. They helped maintain it. They helped finance it. They created the environment that allowed the Chiefs to become one of the most successful and valuable franchises in professional sports. When the moment came to decide whether Missouri would once again step up, the state did exactly that.

The Missouri General Assembly passed legislation specifically designed to keep the Chiefs in Missouri. The legislation offered extraordinary financial incentives and long-term stability. It represented a clear signal to the Chiefs that Missouri values you and Missouri is willing to invest to keep you here. That was not an empty gesture. That was a good faith effort on behalf of Missouri taxpayers. The chiefs chose to walk away anyway.

That choice sends a clear message that decades of taxpayer support and loyalty can be discarded the moment a better offer appears across the state line. That is not partnership. That is exploitation. Missouri did not abandon the Chiefs. The Chiefs abandoned Missouri.

Because of that, I intend to introduce legislation that restores fairness and accountability. Under my proposal, any professional sports franchise that leaves a publicly funded stadium will be required to pay one percent of the total demolition cost of that stadium for every year the team used it.

if taxpayers were expected to help build and sustain these facilities, they should not be left holding the bill when a team decides to leave town. This is not about punishing success. It is about honoring responsibility. It is about making sure that taxpayer loyalty is not treated as disposable and that public investment is respected not taken for granted.

Missouri kept its word. Missouri acted in good faith. Missouri showed up when it mattered. If a franchise chooses to walk away from that loyalty, it should not walk away from the consequences. Missouri deserves better and I intend to make sure this never happens again.

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Some of the responses:

Senator your proposed legislation sounds to me like an emotional response to a business decision. It also sounds like a good way to guarantee Missouri never sees another professional team. Missouri had a chance to step up and the voters of Jackson county said no and the Missouri legislature came up with an offer that wasn’t as good as the competition. You’re part of that legislature you should have worked harder to offer a more competitive deal. This is Missouri’s fault. All the Chiefs did was take advantage of a superior offer. I would suggest rather than making emotional statements you get to work trying to keep the Royals because you’re about to loose them also.

Not really a superior offer when Missouri can back up their offer. Kansas has several STAR bonds that are in default like Prairiefire, Topeka Heartland park & Schlitterban as well as Strataca which is projected to take decades to break even on its bonds… Kansas can’t afford it.. it’s all smoke

3 billion dollars directly to the pockets of a man already worth 24 billion is a scam, not business.

Why should taxpayers pay for all these mega rich sports teams. 99% of those who get stuck with the bill can’t afford to attend just one game.

As a resident of Cass county, I won’t see any of this money. However, for those who reside in Jackson county, I think a little coin in their collective back pockets couldn’t hurt. Business or not, there is something to be said about loyalty.

Your proposal is a short sighted retaliatory response to an understandable business decision. If we want any hope to attract future businesses, we better not penalize current businesses for leaving.
Good begets good. Bad begets bad.
Bottom line Missouri didn’t try to do anything until it was too little too late. For far too long, Jackson County citizens stood alone. They said “no more” about 18 months ago. Jefferson City slapped something together only in the June special session. Apparently it wasn’t important enough to do in general session.
It is sad to see the Chiefs leave. Really sad. End of an era yada yada yada. We will survive. But it does sting.
It’s time for Jefferson City to do better. To be better.
Lay out publicly in detail what your priorities are and why they are the best priorities for Missourians. Make your case like our founders intended.
Stop rubber stamping the lobbyists and big donor agendas.
Listen and do what your constituents want and need.
Be better. Please.

If that sales tax vote would have been for the Chiefs only, I am certain it would have passed. But the Royals and their confusion concerning what they wanted to do botched the whole thing. Also, as I recall, when the votes for the renovation occurred long ago it was only Jackson and Clay County that voted for them and Kansas didn’t care then. I used to have season tickets to the Chiefs, but the price and other things started to be too much. I can’t even imagine the price the tickets and any parking will be when they build a brand-new domed stadium in Kansas. Since the Chiefs were named after the nickname of then mayor H. Roe Bartle of Kansas City, will the Chiefs change their name? I’m sure that will make a lot of people happy.

we voted on it and it was a no . Why should tax payers pay for a billion dollar stadium for billionaires . Broncos building there own. This falls back on the greed of the owners not the legislation. I disagree with this bill though because it won’t help bring more teams in.

Glad my tax dollars ain’t paying for a new stadium now!

You took care of the chiefs like you do your roads.

That one left a mark…

If you are a Missourian and you learned nothing about the NFL loyalty to the profut margin from the Rams leaving I can’t help you.

Only the wealthy will be able to afford to go to a game. You can expect ticket prices to rise and tax rates to go through the roof. Truth be known, there are likely more season ticket holders in Johnson County than anywhere else.

I couldn’t care less.

And this, sportsfans, is why we cant have nice things.

LOL. The whining is loud today.

As a Missouri taxpayer from the STL……I am happy to no be using my tax money to Prop up a billionaire and his family. The ticket prices would not be cheaper because the taxpayers were footing the bill. Screw the billionaires, let the people of Kansas foot the bill. Shame on the Republicans in Missouri for trying to waste our hard earned tax dollars to go to a billionaire that can pay for the majority themselves. Mayne ot is time for the Missouri legislation to sit this one out.

Someone has daddy issues. They ain’t leaving they’re moving across town. It hurts your wallet not mine.

“…[We] avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings…”

I want my taxes for this to stop!

The Missouri Republican Party has overseen dozens of companies leaving, major factory closures, the KC Royals looking to Kansas and now, two NFL teams in less than twenty years. Also, they are 500 million dollars in the hole to help the upper earners Is it time to bench the Missouri Republican Party? YES VOTE THEM OUT!!!

The fans spend billions to fund ball players that kneel and hate our flag and what it stands for.
All done while our vets give uncle Sam a blank check over there lives to give millions to guys who are horrible examples to our children. Fans have things backwards!!!!!

Uh, sir, this is a fast food restaurant.

Chiefs absolutely sucked eggs for FIFTY years and Missouri still supported them. They have a few great years (that appear to ending) and immediately cut and run for extra taxpayer dollars extracted from Kansans. Loyalty in sports is absolutely only given by the fans.

Chaser:

Not anymore.

Prophet? Bad omen?