Missouri’s elected officials, led by Governor Mike Kehoe and a Republican-dominated General Assembly, are barreling toward a fiscal fiasco that prioritizes the profits of billionaire sports team owners over the needs of everyday Missourians. In a state grappling with crumbling infrastructure, underfunded schools, and struggling rural communities, the decision to pour hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars into subsidies and tax breaks for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals is nothing short of a betrayal. This isn’t just a misstep—it’s a deliberate choice to favor corporate welfare over the public good, and it’s time for Missouri’s working-class conservatives to call it what it is: a scandalous misuse of power.
The Stadium Saga: A Game of Corporate Extortion
The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, two of Missouri’s most cherished sports franchises, are at the center of a high-stakes economic tug-of-war between Missouri and Kansas. With their leases at the Truman Sports Complex set to expire in 2031, both teams have been flirting with Kansas, where lawmakers have dangled generous incentives—up to 70% of stadium costs covered by state bonds—to lure them across the state line. Missouri’s response? A desperate, last-minute push by Governor Kehoe to throw taxpayer money at the problem, offering to cover up to half the cost of new or renovated stadiums, estimated at a staggering $3 billion, along with $50 million in tax credits for team investments.
This isn’t about keeping Missouri’s sports heritage alive. It’s about billionaire owners—John Sherman of the Royals and Clark Hunt of the Chiefs—holding the state hostage, demanding public funds to pad their bottom lines. And Missouri’s Republican leadership, despite their rhetoric about fiscal responsibility and limited government, is all too eager to comply. The special session called for June 2025 to push this corporate welfare package through is a slap in the face to every hardworking Missourian who believes their tax dollars should serve the public, not private interests.
The Populist Case Against Stadium Subsidies
From a conservative, populist perspective, this plan is an affront to the principles of fairness and accountability. Missourians didn’t elect their leaders to funnel public money to wealthy elites who already profit handsomely from ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcast deals. The Chiefs and Royals aren’t struggling mom-and-pop shops—they’re multimillion-dollar enterprises owned by some of the richest people in the country. Yet, Governor Kehoe and his Republican allies in the General Assembly seem perfectly content to treat them like charity cases, all while ignoring the real needs of their constituents.
The argument for these subsidies hinges on the idea that keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri is an economic necessity. Proponents claim the teams generate jobs, tourism, and civic pride. But let’s be honest: the economic benefits of professional sports teams are wildly overstated. Studies from economists across the political spectrum—think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Cato Institute—have repeatedly shown that stadium subsidies rarely deliver the promised economic windfall. Most jobs created by stadiums are low-wage, part-time positions, like concession workers or ushers, that do little to lift Missourians out of poverty. The tourism argument is equally flimsy; fans don’t flock to Kansas City just for the Chiefs or Royals—they come for the barbecue, the culture, and the community. If anything, diverting discretionary spending to stadiums pulls money away from local businesses like restaurants and shops.
Compare this to the state’s real needs. Missouri’s rural roads and bridges are in disrepair, with the state ranking among the worst in the nation for infrastructure quality. Public schools are chronically underfunded, leaving teachers underpaid and classrooms overcrowded. Healthcare access in rural areas is a crisis, with hospitals closing and families struggling to afford basic care. These are the issues that affect millions of Missourians every day—not whether the Chiefs play in Kansas City, Missouri, or Kansas City, Kansas. Yet, the Republican-led General Assembly seems more interested in scoring points with wealthy team owners than addressing these urgent priorities.
Republican Hypocrisy on Full Display
For a party that campaigns on fiscal conservatism, limited government, and disdain for corporate cronyism, Missouri’s Republicans are showing their true colors. Governor Kehoe, a self-styled champion of “Missouri values,” has made it clear that his priorities lie with the elite, not the everyman. His decision to call a special session—likely starting June 2, 2025—to ram through this stadium funding plan is a masterclass in political malpractice. Rather than building consensus during the regular legislative session, Kehoe dropped this proposal at the eleventh hour, leaving lawmakers scrambling and taxpayers in the dark. This isn’t leadership; it’s a desperate attempt to curry favor with powerful interests.
The hypocrisy doesn’t stop with Kehoe. Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Shelbina Republican, has defended the plan by arguing that the economic benefits of keeping the teams in Missouri outweigh the costs. She’s gone so far as to claim that the “direct and indirect dollars” generated by the Chiefs and Royals justify the massive public investment. But where’s the evidence? O’Laughlin and her colleagues haven’t provided a shred of credible data to back up these claims. Instead, they’re relying on vague promises and emotional appeals about “civic pride.” Missourians deserve better than empty rhetoric from politicians who claim to be fiscally responsible while signing blank checks for billionaires.
Even more galling is the timing. The regular legislative session ended in chaos, with Republicans using a rare procedural maneuver to shut down debate on contentious issues like abortion and paid sick leave, only to let the stadium funding plan die without a vote. Now, they’re asking taxpayers to foot the bill for a special session—costing thousands of dollars per day—to clean up their mess. This isn’t just incompetence; it’s a deliberate choice to prioritize corporate welfare over the will of the people. As one Republican senator candidly admitted, special sessions “usually go like crap.” So why are Missouri’s taxpayers being forced to pay for this circus?
The Economic Fallacy of Stadium Subsidies
Let’s break down the numbers. The proposed plan would have Missouri cover up to $1.5 billion—half the estimated $3 billion cost of new or renovated stadiums—through bonds financed by tax revenue generated at the stadiums. Add to that $50 million in tax credits for the teams’ direct investments. This is a massive transfer of wealth from ordinary Missourians to private entities. And for what? A handful of low-wage jobs and the dubious promise of “economic development”?
Economists have long debunked the myth that stadiums are economic engines. A 2016 study by the Brookings Institution found that public subsidies for sports facilities rarely deliver significant economic benefits to communities. Instead, they divert public funds from critical services like education and infrastructure, which have far greater long-term impacts on economic growth. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, has called stadium subsidies “corporate welfare at its worst,” noting that they primarily enrich team owners while leaving taxpayers on the hook for decades of debt.
Missouri’s own history proves this point. In the 1990s, the state lost the St. Louis Rams after taxpayers refused to fund a new stadium. Did the local economy collapse? Hardly. St. Louis continues to thrive as a cultural and economic hub, proving that professional sports teams are not the lifeblood of a community. The Chiefs and Royals may be beloved, but they’re not essential to Missouri’s economic survival. If they move across the state line to Kansas, fans will still show up, businesses will still benefit, and life will go on. The only ones who stand to lose are the team owners—and they’re not exactly hurting for cash.
A Populist Call to Action
Missouri’s working-class conservatives should be outraged. This is their money being spent, their voices being ignored, and their needs being sidelined. The Chiefs and Royals are cultural institutions, sure, but they’re not worth sacrificing the state’s financial future. Governor Kehoe and the Republican General Assembly are betting that Missourians will swallow this bitter pill for the sake of “keeping the teams.” But populism demands accountability, and conservatives should demand that their leaders prioritize the people over the powerful.
Instead of throwing billions at stadiums, Missouri could invest in its people. Imagine $1.5 billion spent on fixing rural roads, building new schools, or expanding healthcare access. Imagine tax breaks for small businesses, farmers, and working families—not billionaire team owners. These are the investments that would lift up Missouri’s forgotten communities, not just the Kansas City elite. Yet, the Republican establishment seems content to ignore these opportunities in favor of a flashy, feel-good project that benefits a tiny fraction of the state.
The special session in June 2025 is a chance for Missourians to make their voices heard. Taxpayers should flood their representatives’ offices with calls, emails, and letters demanding that this corporate welfare scheme be scrapped. Conservative activists should rally against this betrayal of fiscal responsibility, holding Kehoe and his allies accountable for their reckless spending. If the Chiefs and Royals want new stadiums, let them pay for it themselves. Missourians shouldn’t be forced to subsidize their profits.
The Bigger Picture: A State in Crisis
The stadium saga is just one symptom of a deeper problem in Missouri: a Republican leadership that’s lost touch with its base. For years, GOP lawmakers have campaigned on promises of low taxes, small government, and putting Missourians first. But when push comes to shove, they’re quick to cozy up to corporate interests, leaving working-class families to foot the bill. This isn’t the conservatism Missourians voted for—it’s cronyism dressed up in red-state rhetoric.
Look at the state’s priorities. While Kehoe pushes for stadium subsidies, rural hospitals are closing at an alarming rate. Missouri ranks near the bottom nationally for healthcare access, with nearly 20% of rural residents uninsured. Public schools are struggling to retain teachers, with starting salaries among the lowest in the nation. The state’s infrastructure is crumbling, with over 2,000 bridges rated as structurally deficient. These are the real crises facing Missourians, yet the General Assembly seems more concerned with keeping billionaire team owners happy than addressing these pressing needs.
The stadium plan also highlights the dysfunction in Jefferson City. The regular legislative session ended in disarray, with Republicans prioritizing culture-war battles over abortion and sick leave while letting critical issues like infrastructure funding and economic development languish. Now, they’re asking taxpayers to fund a special session to clean up their mess—a session that could cost upwards of $50,000 per day. This is what happens when leaders put politics over people: wasted money, wasted time, and wasted opportunities.
A Conservative Alternative
Missouri’s conservative populists deserve a government that fights for them, not against them. Instead of subsidizing stadiums, the state could pursue policies that actually benefit working-class families. Here are a few ideas:
- Invest in Infrastructure: Use the $1.5 billion earmarked for stadiums to fix Missouri’s roads and bridges. This would create thousands of good-paying construction jobs and boost economic activity in rural areas.
- Support Small Businesses: Offer tax breaks and grants to local entrepreneurs, not corporate giants. Small businesses are the backbone of Missouri’s economy, employing far more people than any stadium ever will.
- Fund Education: Increase teacher pay and modernize school facilities to give Missouri’s kids a fighting chance. Education is an investment in the future, unlike stadiums that primarily benefit the wealthy.
- Expand Healthcare Access: Bolster rural hospitals and clinics to ensure every Missourian has access to quality care. This would save lives and strengthen communities far more than a new football field.
These priorities align with the conservative values of self-reliance, community, and fiscal responsibility. They put Missourians first, not billionaire team owners. Governor Kehoe and the General Assembly should take note: the people are watching, and they’re tired of being ignored.
Stop the Corporate Welfare
Missouri’s decision to throw taxpayer money at the Chiefs and Royals is a textbook case of government overreach and corporate cronyism. Governor Mike Kehoe and his Republican allies in the General Assembly have shown they’re more interested in pleasing wealthy elites than serving the people who elected them. This isn’t conservatism—it’s a betrayal of everything the GOP claims to stand for.
As the special session looms, Missourians have a chance to fight back. They can demand that their leaders reject this wasteful stadium subsidy plan and focus on the real needs of the state: better roads, stronger schools, and healthier communities. The Chiefs and Royals may be beloved, but they’re not worth bankrupting Missouri’s future. It’s time for the Republican establishment to listen to the people, not the billionaires. Anything less is a failure of leadership and a betrayal of trust.
