Kansas City Sports Officials Turn Attention to Rolling Roof
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:54 pm
Don't these people get the message?
April 5, 2006 04:21 PM
Supporters Trying to Revive Rolling Roof Issue
By DAVE SKRETTA
Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Officials favoring a rolling roof concept in Kansas City said Wednesday the plan could still be on track.
Moments after Jackson County voters decided to support a sales tax that will raise $425 million to overhaul Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums -- and narrowly defeated a tax to raise money for a proposed roof -- Chiefs vice chairman Jack Steadman was already thinking about the next step.
"We kind of left on the table some major events that would give Kansas City worldwide exposure," Steadman said. "We're disappointed about that. There was discussion last night and there will be ongoing discussion about bringing that back."
Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt and Royals owner David Glass have both expressed interest in revisiting the $200 million rolling roof plan, which led to assurances of the 2015 Super Bowl and the potential to host NCAA basketball championships if it were passed. But it failed, winning only 49 percent of the vote.
About $170 million of the project would have been funded by a user tax mainly affecting Jackson County businesses, with the remainder kicked in by the Chiefs. And Steadman said he doesn't think officials will scrap that plan entirely.
"We think maybe with a single issue and better information and what it can do for Kansas City, voters will give it approval," he said.
Bob White of HOK, the design firm that developed many of the conceptual drawings, said officials didn't expect voters to approve the renovation without saying yes to the rolling roof.
While White said plans can move forward for now, the decision to add a roof must happen soon. Officials hope construction will begin after the 2006 football season, which makes August a likely time for another ballot measure.
That means a final proposal must be drawn up by the end of May, Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields said.
"The teams need to start expressing that desire. We need to sit down, look at the results, and see if it makes sense," she said. "Clearly people had issues that we had not successfully addressed."
Shields said voting on the two measures simultaneously -- with passage of the rolling roof contingent upon passing the 3/8-cent sales tax -- may have confused voters, and "when people get confused they tend to vote no."
She also said regardless of whether the current plan goes forward with improved publicity or a new financing plan, discussions with taxpayers and both franchises will happen soon.
"A roof has long been a dream," said Kevin Gray, president of the Kansas City Sports Commission. "But I don't think the issue is dead. I'm confident it's a good idea. Whether the exact design makes sense, I don't know."
Organizers from Portland, Ore., to Charlotte, N.C., who are trying to lure a major league baseball franchise were keenly aware of Kansas City's vote.
"I never thought of Kansas City being an unstable franchise," said Jerry Reese, a lawyer in Charlotte who is proposing a $500 million downtown stadium development in an attempt to lure the Florida Marlins or another franchise. "I'm happy for their fans there."
Dave Hallerud of Grain Valley, Mo., voted yes for both measures, and as he sat down along the right field line at Kauffman Stadium during the Royals' game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, he pointed to the facility's cracked pavement and deteriorating state.
"They needed to do something to keep the teams here," he said. "And the roof, they'll probably try again. Lamar wants a Super Bowl pretty bad. Maybe the owners will pony up some more money."
While Hallerud favored the rolling roof, some called it a wasteful luxury that would only benefit the Chiefs. Many more thought it had a better chance of passing if the teams were simply more competitive. The Royals haven't reached the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1985 and the Chiefs haven't won a playoff game since the 1993 season.
"I think (the roof) has a chance if they market it better and if they win more games," said Clay Wallace of Lee's Summit, Mo., who voted against the roof. "If they were filling the stadium it would have a better chance."
April 5, 2006 04:21 PM
Supporters Trying to Revive Rolling Roof Issue
By DAVE SKRETTA
Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Officials favoring a rolling roof concept in Kansas City said Wednesday the plan could still be on track.
Moments after Jackson County voters decided to support a sales tax that will raise $425 million to overhaul Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums -- and narrowly defeated a tax to raise money for a proposed roof -- Chiefs vice chairman Jack Steadman was already thinking about the next step.
"We kind of left on the table some major events that would give Kansas City worldwide exposure," Steadman said. "We're disappointed about that. There was discussion last night and there will be ongoing discussion about bringing that back."
Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt and Royals owner David Glass have both expressed interest in revisiting the $200 million rolling roof plan, which led to assurances of the 2015 Super Bowl and the potential to host NCAA basketball championships if it were passed. But it failed, winning only 49 percent of the vote.
About $170 million of the project would have been funded by a user tax mainly affecting Jackson County businesses, with the remainder kicked in by the Chiefs. And Steadman said he doesn't think officials will scrap that plan entirely.
"We think maybe with a single issue and better information and what it can do for Kansas City, voters will give it approval," he said.
Bob White of HOK, the design firm that developed many of the conceptual drawings, said officials didn't expect voters to approve the renovation without saying yes to the rolling roof.
While White said plans can move forward for now, the decision to add a roof must happen soon. Officials hope construction will begin after the 2006 football season, which makes August a likely time for another ballot measure.
That means a final proposal must be drawn up by the end of May, Jackson County Executive Kathryn Shields said.
"The teams need to start expressing that desire. We need to sit down, look at the results, and see if it makes sense," she said. "Clearly people had issues that we had not successfully addressed."
Shields said voting on the two measures simultaneously -- with passage of the rolling roof contingent upon passing the 3/8-cent sales tax -- may have confused voters, and "when people get confused they tend to vote no."
She also said regardless of whether the current plan goes forward with improved publicity or a new financing plan, discussions with taxpayers and both franchises will happen soon.
"A roof has long been a dream," said Kevin Gray, president of the Kansas City Sports Commission. "But I don't think the issue is dead. I'm confident it's a good idea. Whether the exact design makes sense, I don't know."
Organizers from Portland, Ore., to Charlotte, N.C., who are trying to lure a major league baseball franchise were keenly aware of Kansas City's vote.
"I never thought of Kansas City being an unstable franchise," said Jerry Reese, a lawyer in Charlotte who is proposing a $500 million downtown stadium development in an attempt to lure the Florida Marlins or another franchise. "I'm happy for their fans there."
Dave Hallerud of Grain Valley, Mo., voted yes for both measures, and as he sat down along the right field line at Kauffman Stadium during the Royals' game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, he pointed to the facility's cracked pavement and deteriorating state.
"They needed to do something to keep the teams here," he said. "And the roof, they'll probably try again. Lamar wants a Super Bowl pretty bad. Maybe the owners will pony up some more money."
While Hallerud favored the rolling roof, some called it a wasteful luxury that would only benefit the Chiefs. Many more thought it had a better chance of passing if the teams were simply more competitive. The Royals haven't reached the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1985 and the Chiefs haven't won a playoff game since the 1993 season.
"I think (the roof) has a chance if they market it better and if they win more games," said Clay Wallace of Lee's Summit, Mo., who voted against the roof. "If they were filling the stadium it would have a better chance."
