Before he ever won a Lombardi Trophy or was named the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback. Patrick Mahomes became something much more: a city’s symbol. And being the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, he is also the beating heart of a football-crazed city that saw him develop from a rocket-armed Texas prospect into the NFL’s face. Mahomes responded by doubling down on Kansas City, investing in ownership groups, raising a family there, and even contributing to Arrowhead Stadium’s renovations.

But now, in spite of all that devotion, the city he calls home might be moving? Missouri is rushing to react to the State of Kansas’ most audacious move to date. What’s at stake? No less than the future of Mahomes’ kingdom.

A bill that might change the trajectory of Patrick Mahomes’ NFL career and the very landscape of professional sports in the Midwest was formally approved by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Friday. To lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from Missouri, the bill provides incentives worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In particular, it extends Kansas’ Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond program to pay up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums. This action uses money from liquor and sports betting sales and eliminates the need for new taxes. And time is running out. The deadline for Missouri lawmakers to present a counteroffer is this Friday at 6 p.m.

Jackson County voters have already rejected a 3/8-cent sales tax extension intended to pay for Arrowhead improvements and a new Royals stadium downtown. And stadium funding bills have been in limbo up until this point. That unsuccessful vote cracked the door open. Kansas simply kicked it down. The Chiefs, including team president Mark Donovan, have stayed tight-lipped but clearly intrigued. The franchise is ready to explore any new renovation proposals, according to Donovan. And Mahomes, who has stated time and time again that he wants to remain in Kansas City, might soon be pressed to define what ‘Kansas City’ actually means.

As Missouri panicked, reports of a high-stakes, private meeting between House Republicans and Governor Mike Kehoe surfaced. Creating a Hail Mary funding plan that could persuade the Chiefs and Royals to remain in Missouri. There have been no signatures and only rumors thus far.

With $1 billion on the table, Patrick Mahomes’ kingdom could shift States

Kansas is providing more than just a relocation package. It’s a comprehensive plan to save the franchise. The STAR Bonds package enables Kansas to finance projects at a size that was previously unimaginable. And also repay them over 30 years instead of the customary 20. Stadiums that must cost at least $1 billion and have space for more than 30,000 spectators. There would be no need for the Chiefs and Royals to share a facility. It’s not a hand-me-down situation. It’s a specially designed field for Mahomes and the upcoming Kansas City legends.

Meanwhile, the Missouri side remains neutral. Missouri has yet to develop a concrete stadium bill, even though it has committed to investing $50 million for improvements around Arrowhead and investing $3 million a year in the Truman Sports Complex (due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup). Despite his well-known support for preserving the teams, Governor Kehoe has not yet formally endorsed a comprehensive proposal.

In North Kansas City, the Royals have already begun looking into Clay County real estate. The Chiefs? The runway for a Missouri miracle gets shorter with each year of delay as their contract at Arrowhead expires in 2031. The optics are indisputable, even though neither team has made a commitment to a move. An exit ramp worth $1 billion has been installed. Kansas has the gas. Missouri? Still searching for the keys.

According to Patrick Mahomes, he wants to live in Kansas City forever. However, forever might be just a border crossing away. Mahomes’ next touchdown at ‘home’ might occur in a brand-new stadium with a Kansas zip code if the Chiefs accept this arrangement. The Chiefs are still in Missouri for the time being. However, Kansas just ensured that Mahomes’ legacy will be far more complex in the future—and perhaps much more profitable.

© 2025 – TKT