Cost going up to build Kansas City Current soccer stadium

KANSAS CITY, Mo, — The worth tag for constructing that new girls’s professional soccer stadium goes up — and by lots.

Kansas Metropolis Present group possession is now asking for Missouri tax incentives. Initially, franchise homeowners stated they might privately pay for the prices of their entirety. Present leaders confirmed for FOX4 the stadium invoice goes up by practically $50 million — from roughly $70 million to roughly $117 million.

Present group homeowners Chris and Angie Lengthy say they’re searching for $6 million in assist from the state.

Kansas Metropolis Fourth District Councilmember Eric Bunch stated he isn’t involved that Present homeowners are asking for tax breaks. Bunch in sponsoring a metropolis ordinance supporting the Present’s plan, encouraging the Missouri Improvement Finance Board to present them the incentives.

“I feel most of the people, in the event that they understood that is the state stepping in and utilizing state tax {dollars} not directly to assist a challenge that’s going to learn Kansas Citians, I feel they completely would,” Bunch advised FOX4.

The Present plans to construct that pitch on a plot of land close to Berkley Riverfront Park close to Port KC. The Lengthy Household despatched a press release to FOX4 saying they’re nonetheless handing the most important portion of the stadium invoice.

“As we’ve got gotten into this challenge, our imaginative and prescient for this group and our imaginative and prescient of what this stadium can imply for our metropolis and for girls’s sports activities all over the place has grown,” The Lengthy stated, by way of electronic mail.

“I supported this challenge as a result of I wish to see it occur. I consider in what the top result’s going to be. It’s elevating girls’s skilled sports activities. It’s elevating Kansas Metropolis,” Bunch stated.

Individuals round city have blended concepts about public cash being earmarked for one more professional sports activities franchise in Missouri. Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, properties of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Kansas Metropolis Royals respectively, are additionally taxpayer supported, albeit from totally different budgetary ources.

“I feel it’s value spending no matter the price. I feel it’s one thing that may carry extra folks and vacationers to Kansas Metropolis and assist the town develop,” Caitlin Warren, a soccer fan from Kansas Metropolis, stated.

“Whereas I’m comfortable to pay my share, I don’t really feel extracurricular issues which can be for leisure or sports activities and leisure — I really like sports activities, however for it to come back out of my pocket, I’m not likely proud of that,” Stephanie Dilley, a taxpayer from Independence, Missouri, stated.

Councilmember Bunch identified $6 million isn’t the excessive worth it could appear, for the reason that Royals and Chiefs would seemingly ask for extra for his or her potential new properties.