JEFFERSON CITY — A Missouri lawmaker has introduced legislation to change the state’s “official football team” from the Chiefs to the Battlehawks.
Missouri State Sen. Nick Schroer (R-St. Charles County) introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 on Thursday, which would remove the designation of the Kansas City Chiefs as the official football team of the state of Missouri.
The legislation would appoint the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League as the official football team of Missouri.
This move comes after the Chiefs announced plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in a Kansas City, Kansas, prior to the start of the 2031 NFL season.
“Based on recent events, it has become clear that the will of the people of the state of Missouri has changed with regard to the designation of the Kansas City Chiefs as the official NFL football team of this state,” Schroer said in the proposal. “The Kansas City Chiefs football organization has indicated that, despite years of fan support and financial support from the citizens of this state, the team wants to relocate the team to the state of Kansas.”
The resolution claims that Missouri acted in good faith to keep the Chiefs while Kansas enticed the team with large financial incentives.
“It is nonsensical to designate a team that will no longer reside in this state as the official NFL football team of this state,” the proposal said.
The resolution is a non-binding proposal that doesn’t create a law or spend public funds, but instead endorses the Battlehawks as Missouri’s official football team.
The proposal would need approval from the Missouri Senate, House and Governor before it could take effect.
Schroer also proposed a bill that would prohibit the Chiefs from receiving tax credits.
On Wednesday, Schroer introduced Senate Bill 1485, which would prohibit professional sports teams that play home games in facilities with a capacity of at least 75,000 from receiving any tax credits.
The capacity at Arrowhead Stadium is 76,416.
