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Chiefs Hire Research Group to Aid in Planning For Potential Relocation


The Kansas City Chiefs are currently dealing with the reality that the team must relocate. The team has been unsuccessful in securing the necessary funds that it would take to renovate Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri, while also building a new ballpark on the property for the Kansas City Royals.

Read more: Chiefs Stadium Renovations Shut Down by Local Taxpayers

The residents of Jackson County, Missouri rejected a tax proposal in April of this year that would have gone to keep the Chiefs in the state. With the proposal being rejected, a few options were being decided.

The Chiefs could present another tax proposal that residents would agree to, bring in new investors to put forth the money, and completely relocate. The latter appears to be a strong possibility.

Kansas City announced the team has hired a third-party research group called CSL International (CSL). CSL is being hired as a “third-party research firm specializing in sports and entertainment venues, to conduct market research through surveys, interviews and focus groups of key stakeholders as part of the club’s ongoing decision making related to the future home of the Chiefs in 2031 and beyond.”

This organization is apparently going to conduct plenty of market research to determine what stakeholders would want to do regarding the future home of the Chiefs.

Arrowhead Stadium
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 5: A general view of an empty GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium prior to the start of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA…


Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

Relocation would completely upend the NFL, as the Chiefs are arguably the most popular team in the league. Moving out of Missouri might have seemed like a foregone conclusion, but Chiefs owner Clark Hunt announced to reporters in Oct. that a relocation plan was being considered.

Read more: Chiefs Owner Considering Relocation of Team For New Stadium

“So for the last three months or so since I had a chance to visit with y’all at training camp, we have been working on creating some options. Not only for the stadium but for potentially a new training facility. We have been looking at a lot of sites, on both the Kansas and Missouri sides, as well as talking to the political leaders in Missouri about perhaps renovating Arrowhead,” Hunt stated.

To make matters more tense, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed legislation in June that offered $700 million or more to the Chiefs organization to move the team next door to the state of Kansas.

Despite the hard push to get the Super Bowl champions to Kansas, Missouri Governor Mike Parson also stated Missouri would be “competitive” in keeping the Chiefs.

Read more: Chiefs’ Threats to Move Team Gain Leverage As Stadium Renovations Await

Missouri losing the Chiefs might not be an option, as back in June Missouri Governor Mike Parson told the Associated Press, “We’re going to make sure that we put the best business deal we can on the line. Look, I can’t blame Kansas for trying. You know, if I was probably sitting there, I’d be doing the same thing. But at the end of the day, we’re going to be competitive.”

The Chiefs are going to remain at Arrowhead Stadium until the lease expires in 2030. The organization will need to make quick work of what comes next, whether that be working with Missouri to remain in the state, or deciding to move the team to Kansas — or some other state that would want to bring over the Chiefs and Royals.

Hiring a research company does indicate that the Chiefs are exploring all options, including completely moving the team.

For more on the Chiefs, head to Newsweek Sports.



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