As a practical matter (financially and politically), I don't see how Kansas could support another stadium after the Chiefs deal. Perhaps the NFL move might build some sentiment for a KCMO Royals stadium, but the negative publicity on how bad the NFL deal is won't help.

If you are arguing, "but the Hunt family fortune is distributed across many heirs," just stop. It's not the winning argument that you think it is.

Clark Hunt didn't need the money (his family's net worth is ~$25 B), it's the adoration he's after. The Chiefs could have easily self-funded the stadium, and earned the love of the community, but it's the exclusive club of fellow NFL owners whom he wants to impress.

Is the Chief's stadium deal the largest public subsidy ever offered. When looking only at stadium capital construction costs, I say yes. But when you throw in everything else, @gpropheter.bsky.social says it's still not as bad as the Commanders giveaway. It's bad. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

It's good to see editorial boards coming out against stadium subsidies. More this, please. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Actual economic impact / Commissioned economic impact study

Let's not forget the chiding words of early Gateway director Tom Chema who mocked the economists who said it wouldn't pay for itself. tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

This is absurd. There's no way you can devote $1.8 BILLION in public money to a stadium and not cost Kansas taxpayers "one new cent." If it's true that we can costlessly pay for government projects with tax districts, then why don't we just fund everything that way? www.kctv5.com/2025/12/24/k...

It's pretty clear that anyone who believes that the Chiefs stadium will pay for itself certainly wasn't convinced by the math.

Governor of Kansas continues to lie about the Chiefs stadium deal. The way public-private stadium partnerships work is the public partner pays the cost and the private partner keeps the revenue. It's impossible to devote $1.8 billion of public resources without having an impact on the state budget.

Just so I understand the rules: It's OK for everyone to use Truist Park and The Battery as an example of a successful mixed-use stadium project, but I am not allowed to comment on stadium deals outside of Georgia.

The political economy of stadium subsidies. Commissioned study/ Politicians

Oof, no. Bondholders will buy these bonds BECAUSE they are backed by a lucrative tax income stream committed by the state. Tax revenue that would otherwise go to something else will now pay back the stadium debt. fox4kc.com/news/kansas-...

A new lucrative revenue stream that flows directly to the Hunts.

Yet, Ohio leaders found $600 million to build a replacement NFL stadium for the Haslams, who have a net worth approaching $9 billion.

I mean, no pro sports stadium has ever generated significant economic activity before, but it's totally sound policy guidance to assume it will happen this time.

Me watching season 5 of Stranger Things.

Perhaps this should be titled: What Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wants you to think.

I see people freaking out about World Cup ticket prices. Ultimately, prices will be high, due to scarcity, but current prices aren't final. Since there's no rush to sell, prices are initially set high but will decrease. Focus on final sale prices, not asking prices.

Merry Christmas! 2016 was a really good year, 2018 was OK. Hope they get Anchor up and running again by 2027, or my cellar is going to run dry.

Alright, I've updated all my stadium funding numbers through 2025 (cutoff point for book inclusion). So, no more venue announcements until 2026 (or ever), please. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's simply not possible to devote $1.8 BILLION to a public stadium without acquiring that same amount of wealth from taxpayers (by increasing collections or reallocating revenue). Why is this so hard to understand? Journalists, you've got to challenge public officials on this.

Taxpayers...the subsidy revenue comes from taxpayers.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE STADIUM www.cjonline.com/story/news/p...

Oof, this is an extremely unflattering portrait of the Athletics. The A's may be an MLB team, but it is certainly not a major-league organization.

That's one hell of a "stadium district".

@jcbradbury.com @fieldofschemes.bsky.social looks like something is in the water. youtube.com/shorts/1vm82...

Ouch. Current est of public resources to the Chiefs is $6.3b (nom) and $4.1b (real). I assume the $2.775b "cap" is all debt financed. Cost comes down if state uses cash. Cap is not what is owed to bond holders but what the state commits to project. $6.3b is rivaled by DC deal for the Commanders.

If you're a journalist who reports on "economic impact studies," call up your local university's economics department and ask which course you should audit to learn how IMPLAN works. You'll find that no such course exists, because that's not how economists study economic effects.

Random people on the internet: "As an economist, you should know [something that every economist knows is totally incorrect]."

Ugh, please don't publish assertions about the supposed "economic impact" of the new stadium. I've seen the "study", it is GARBAGE. Newspapers shouldn't be repeating propaganda as news. www.kansascity.com/news/local/w...

Yesterday, I was literally updating all the tables and figures for my chapter on the cost of new stadiums, when the news broke on the KC Chiefs stadium. Now, I've got to do them all again. I thought I was safe. No more stadium boondoggles until 2026, please.

Folks, I've been getting yelled at online since before social media existed.

It's going to be that kind of a day.

What's the difference between a burglar and an NFL owner? A burglar takes your stuff and leaves. An NFL owner takes your stuff and then gives you a lecture about why it's for your own good. Sam McDowell bringing 🔥

It just goes to show you what the representatives who approved the deal really care about. They're the ones who will be in the suite, not the taxpayers who will pay for the food. No wonder politicians and team owners get along so well.

Want a nutshell summary of how bad this Kansas deal is for taxpayers? So bad that the state couldn't even get the team to comp food for its suite. Even after agreeing to give the team $2.775b.

We know more details about the Chiefs stadium financing plan than the Las Vegas's Athletics plan.

"all with no new taxes or state budget dollars"

Devoting $1.8 BILLION of public money to an NFL stadium (60% of $3 billion) is indefensible public policy.

Claiming that you're building a new stadium to generate economic development is like claiming that you're going to the moon to mine green cheese.

KC Chiefs to Kansas is getting closer.

Every Day Is Sunday by Ken Belson is an insightful look into the "high school cafeteria for billionaires" that runs the NFL. It does for the NFL what Helyar's Lords of the Realm did for MLB. A must for anyone interested in the inner-workings of the league.

Who are these "scholars" adding references as filler? An academic article isn't a high school term paper with a minimum reference count. Citations should only be added if they need to be there. The problem with missing references is there's missing information. Cosmetic citation doesn't solve this.

Having spent many years following pro sports team operations, this doesn't surprise me. These organizations are run by proud competitive men, who view their success as preordained. They will not tolerate losses. Hubris flourishes.

Read my latest piece about the Royals stadium, where I channel a little bit of @jcbradbury.com in swatting some financial claims down (and complain, in general, that it would be an unfun mess of a location)