Post by lazarus on Apr 5, 2006 11:22:14 GMT -5
Teams get a split decision
Vote cements Hunt’s legacy as Chiefs will stay at Arrowhead
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Several hundred people erupted in applause for Hunt when he stepped up to a microphone on Tuesday night after Jackson County voters approved a sales-tax measure to help pay for renovations at the Truman Sports Complex.
Their salute to Hunt was a sign of affection for the man who brought pro football to Kansas City more than 40 years ago and was a driving force in building the once revolutionary idea of a dual stadium complex.
And the vote on Tuesday assured the community there will be pro football and major-league baseball at the Truman Sports Complex for another 25 years, further cementing Hunt’s place as the man who is most responsible for more than seven decades of big-time sports in Kansas City.
In the late 1960s, several other cities built cookie-cutter, multi-purpose stadiums that became obsolete and were replaced, but Hunt’s vision was rewarded as Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums continued to enjoy a vital middle age.
However, the stadiums eventually needed renovations and amenities to keep up with other cities’ revenue-producing facilities that replaced the cookie cutters, so Hunt led a drive to not only refurbish the Truman Sports Complex but rekindle the original idea of a rolling roof for the stadiums.
That was his only disappointment on Tuesday.
Hunt was thrilled that Jackson County taxpayers Tuesday approved Question 1 — a three-eighth cent sales tax that will help pay for $575 million of renovations for Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.
But he was let down and surprised that the voters rejected Question 2 — a $202 million use tax on businesses — that would have financed the rolling roof and fulfilled Hunt’s dream of nearly 40 years ago when the late architect Charles Deaton conceived of the twin-stadium complex.
“I would hope the dream of the rolling roof and the Super Bowl for Kansas City can be kept alive,” Hunt said.
When Jackson County voters approved the Sports Complex bond issue in 1967, the $53 million project included plans for the world’s first rolling stadium roof. But construction cost overruns and project delays caused by a lengthy strike eventually forced the roof concept to be put on hold.
Hunt never abandoned hope that one day the Truman Sports Complex would have the roof. One attempt was made in 1984 when the Jackson County Sports Authority investigated a fabric dome, but that concept was shelved as being impractical.
But Hunt, who persisted as a visionary in founding the American Football League and convincing the staid NFL to adopt the two-point conversion, names on the backs of jerseys and even named the Super Bowl, maintained his dream.
Hunt was so convinced he could make it happen, he persuaded the NFL to grant Kansas City a Super Bowl for February 2015, contingent on Jackson County’s approval of the rolling roof and ability to climate control Arrowhead Stadium.
He had other grand plans, as well. A Final Four in 2013. A major college football bowl game. Concert extravaganzas. Just as he brought Major League Soccer, Big 12 football championship games, international soccer matches and other big events to Kansas City.
That’s what made Tuesday’s split decision so bittersweet.
“I’m surprised,” Hunt said, “because I frankly thought there was a danger that the roof would pass and not Question 1. Obviously, from a long-range perspective, the Question 1 was the No. 1 criteria and assures the team’s here for another 25 years and assures the facilities are going to be first class.
“I want to visit with those who are better prepared and can make the analysis why Question 2 didn’t do better. A lot of people thought it would do the best of the two.”
There’s still time for the Hunts to rekindle the rolling roof, but HOK Sport, which is designing the renovations, would have to take into account a future roof in the final plan.
“It’s two different designs with or without the roof,” Lamar Hunt said. “That’s a big consideration. and doesn’t answer the issues what the NFL’s position will be (regarding the Super Bowl). I think they will be understanding, but we haven’t had any Plan B conversations with the NFL. We have a lot of time … eight and a half years until the Super Bowl.”
Asked if the Chiefs would be willing to foot the bill, with naming rights, for the roof, Hunt declined.
“No, I don’t want to get into that,” said Hunt, who has committed $75 million plus guaranteeing cost overruns, along with the Royals, for the project. “We think we’ve stretched pretty far before, and we want to analyze was Question 2 not asked right. Was it confusing to the public? I don’t know the answer to that. Some people said they thought the wording was a little confusing.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz Merrill of The Star contributed to this story. To reach Randy Covitz, NFL reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4796 or send e-mail to rcovitz@kcstar.com
Vote cements Hunt’s legacy as Chiefs will stay at Arrowhead
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
Several hundred people erupted in applause for Hunt when he stepped up to a microphone on Tuesday night after Jackson County voters approved a sales-tax measure to help pay for renovations at the Truman Sports Complex.
Their salute to Hunt was a sign of affection for the man who brought pro football to Kansas City more than 40 years ago and was a driving force in building the once revolutionary idea of a dual stadium complex.
And the vote on Tuesday assured the community there will be pro football and major-league baseball at the Truman Sports Complex for another 25 years, further cementing Hunt’s place as the man who is most responsible for more than seven decades of big-time sports in Kansas City.
In the late 1960s, several other cities built cookie-cutter, multi-purpose stadiums that became obsolete and were replaced, but Hunt’s vision was rewarded as Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums continued to enjoy a vital middle age.
However, the stadiums eventually needed renovations and amenities to keep up with other cities’ revenue-producing facilities that replaced the cookie cutters, so Hunt led a drive to not only refurbish the Truman Sports Complex but rekindle the original idea of a rolling roof for the stadiums.
That was his only disappointment on Tuesday.
Hunt was thrilled that Jackson County taxpayers Tuesday approved Question 1 — a three-eighth cent sales tax that will help pay for $575 million of renovations for Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.
But he was let down and surprised that the voters rejected Question 2 — a $202 million use tax on businesses — that would have financed the rolling roof and fulfilled Hunt’s dream of nearly 40 years ago when the late architect Charles Deaton conceived of the twin-stadium complex.
“I would hope the dream of the rolling roof and the Super Bowl for Kansas City can be kept alive,” Hunt said.
When Jackson County voters approved the Sports Complex bond issue in 1967, the $53 million project included plans for the world’s first rolling stadium roof. But construction cost overruns and project delays caused by a lengthy strike eventually forced the roof concept to be put on hold.
Hunt never abandoned hope that one day the Truman Sports Complex would have the roof. One attempt was made in 1984 when the Jackson County Sports Authority investigated a fabric dome, but that concept was shelved as being impractical.
But Hunt, who persisted as a visionary in founding the American Football League and convincing the staid NFL to adopt the two-point conversion, names on the backs of jerseys and even named the Super Bowl, maintained his dream.
Hunt was so convinced he could make it happen, he persuaded the NFL to grant Kansas City a Super Bowl for February 2015, contingent on Jackson County’s approval of the rolling roof and ability to climate control Arrowhead Stadium.
He had other grand plans, as well. A Final Four in 2013. A major college football bowl game. Concert extravaganzas. Just as he brought Major League Soccer, Big 12 football championship games, international soccer matches and other big events to Kansas City.
That’s what made Tuesday’s split decision so bittersweet.
“I’m surprised,” Hunt said, “because I frankly thought there was a danger that the roof would pass and not Question 1. Obviously, from a long-range perspective, the Question 1 was the No. 1 criteria and assures the team’s here for another 25 years and assures the facilities are going to be first class.
“I want to visit with those who are better prepared and can make the analysis why Question 2 didn’t do better. A lot of people thought it would do the best of the two.”
There’s still time for the Hunts to rekindle the rolling roof, but HOK Sport, which is designing the renovations, would have to take into account a future roof in the final plan.
“It’s two different designs with or without the roof,” Lamar Hunt said. “That’s a big consideration. and doesn’t answer the issues what the NFL’s position will be (regarding the Super Bowl). I think they will be understanding, but we haven’t had any Plan B conversations with the NFL. We have a lot of time … eight and a half years until the Super Bowl.”
Asked if the Chiefs would be willing to foot the bill, with naming rights, for the roof, Hunt declined.
“No, I don’t want to get into that,” said Hunt, who has committed $75 million plus guaranteeing cost overruns, along with the Royals, for the project. “We think we’ve stretched pretty far before, and we want to analyze was Question 2 not asked right. Was it confusing to the public? I don’t know the answer to that. Some people said they thought the wording was a little confusing.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz Merrill of The Star contributed to this story. To reach Randy Covitz, NFL reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4796 or send e-mail to rcovitz@kcstar.com
