OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – As Kansas lawmakers and the Chiefs held negotiations to get the team to leave Missouri, Lieutenant Governor David Toland led those conversations. He spoke to KCTV at the Kansas Department of Commerce office in Overland Park on Tuesday.

“We’re thrilled,” said Toland. “We’re so excited to be able to bring the Chiefs to Kansas, keep them in the Kansas City region, and to add an entirely new facility to the ecosystem of assets in Kansas City, which is a modern, domed facility that can host a Super Bowl, Final Fours, and big bowl games among many other things.”

Toland, who is also the state’s Secretary of Commerce, describes the last few days as a whirlwind, but a happy one, and they weren’t sure it was a done deal until around 2 p.m. on Sunday. He acknowledges the teamwork from state politicians in getting this done.

“This is a massive win,” said Toland. “It’s a massive project. We’re talking about a $4 billion project, 21,000 construction jobs, $4 billion in economic impact just during construction and then $1 billion a year in new revenues to Kansas. Our main message is one; this is a great deal for the taxpayers. Two, we’re going to be able to do things that we’ve never done before in Kansas and in Kansas City. Three, and most importantly, this is great for the Chiefs.”

The new stadium in Wyandotte County and team headquarters and practice facility in Johnson County, along with entertainment districts at both, are part of a new STAR Bond District. The Sales Tax and Revenue bonds, or STAR Bonds, will help finance this project. The cost of the projects will be split 60-40, with Kansas paying 60% and the Chiefs paying 40%.

“This is a project that pays for itself with new revenues and at no risk to the taxpayers,” said Toland. “It’s going to create new money that is not currently here. That sales tax from the district in that area is pledged to the STAR Bonds. The risk for those STAR Bonds is born by the people who buy those bonds, not by the taxpayers. That’s about 80% of the capitol stack for the project. The other 20% comes from the state’s Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund, which comes from the lottery and from sports betting. You put those two pieces together and that’s how we’re able to accomplish a $4 billion deal for Kansas.”

There have been questions of the success rate of STAR Bonds for past projects. KCTV5 investigated the 25-year history of the program and found a mixed record: some projects paid off early, while others closed before the bonds were retired. Toland stands by them.

“STAR Bonds are a proven tool that we’ve been using for over 25 years in Kansas,” said Toland. “We’ve done huge projects with them, like the Kansas Speedway, and we’ve done smaller projects all over the state, like the Amelia Earhart Museum in Atchison, for example.

“This is a proven model. We’ve done them successfully and it’s a tool that’s particularly good on a large project like this. We’re going to have a STAR Bond District that’s very strong, and we know that this is going to be a win, not just for the Chiefs and the communities, but for the investors.”

With the plans for the new stadium to have a dome and an entertainment district, Toland says it can be used for much more than Chiefs’ games. He listed Super Bowl games, Final Four games, collegiate bowl games, and concerts, on top of hotels, restaurants, and more. He says this is a win for the whole metro.

“When you have a large-scale event like that, the impact is felt not just in Kansas, but across the region,” said Toland. “I think this is going to be, without question, a net positive for the Kansas City metro and that’s always been a goal of ours. We want a destination that’s going to be active, vibrant, and alive 365 days a year with people who live there and work there and come for restaurants and entertainment any night of the year. That’s a major part of how this project will differ from what’s currently at the Truman Sports Complex.”

The plan is to have the Chiefs in the new stadium by the start of the 2031-2032 season. Toland acknowledges the team leaving Arrowhead and Missouri is difficult for some fans.

“I’m an economic development professional,” said Toland. “I’ve been on both sides of winning deals and losing deals, and I know what it feels like both ways. I know this is tough for a lot of people in the region. I love Arrowhead as a venue. It’s an amazing place, but it’s time to go to the next level. That’s what we’re doing with this stadium project, with the headquarters and practice facility and these entertainment districts in Kansas. It’s making sure that the Chiefs remain best in class, that we’re growing the economy not just in Kansas but in the Kansas City metro, and we can have new opportunities to, among other things, finally realize Lamar Hunt Sr.’s dream of bringing a Super Bowl to Kansas City.”

When asked if he’s leading continued talks with the Royals, Toland declined to answer, saying they’re still focused on the Chiefs at this time.

For more stories on the latest stadium development news, click here.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.