Truman Complex needs $30 million in upgrades

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Neither football's Chiefs nor baseball's Royals have threatened to leave the Truman Sports Complex if improvements aren't made to their home venues.

But the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority says a plan for stadium upgrades needs to be in place -- and soon -- to keep the county from defaulting on the terms of its leases with the clubs.

''The next 30 to 60 days will be critical,'' said Beto Lopez, sports authority commissioner. ''We have no choice but to keep moving forward with our plan of action to make sure we don't default on these leases.''

Members of the authority met with state and county lawmakers Wednesday for what Lopez described as a brainstorming session to discuss funding options. One option, he said, was a plan to use sales taxes collected at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, the respective homes of the Chiefs and Royals.

Under the terms of the 1990 leases with the teams, the sports authority needs to make about $30 million in improvements by the end of 2006 to avoid falling into default. If were to happen, the teams would be allowed to leave.

More improvements would be needed over the course of the leases, which expire in 2014.

The sports authority is lobbying state lawmakers to modify the visiting athletes and entertainers tax to bring in more money. Also, the county has until Jan. 25 to place a proposed sales tax for the stadiums on the April ballot.

The latest talks came as the Downtown Council continues to put together its plan -- details of which have not been released -- to build a downtown stadium for the Royals.

The Sports Complex Authority also plans to discuss a two-year deferment on stadium improvements with the Chiefs and Royals. Officials said that would give the county time to come up with a long-range plan and would not require a sales tax vote in the spring.