By Ilana Arougheti | The Kansas City Star
As Kansas City and Jackson County begin to grapple with the fallout of the Chiefs’ impending exit, city and county officials have partially attributed the abandonment of Arrowhead to a previous leader’s anti-stadium stance.
kAmz2?D2D r:EJ |2J@C "F:?E@? {F42D 2?5 x?E6C:> y24<D@? r@F?EJ tI64FE:G6 !9:= {6'@E2 3@E9 96=5 D6A2C2E6 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46D |@?52J 27E6C?@@? 27E6C E96 7:?2= r9:67D 562= H2D 2??@F?465] t249 C67=64E65 @? E96 4:EJ 2?5 4@F?EJ 8@G6C?>6?ED’ 2EE6>AED E@ 6>6C86 2D 2? :>A24E7F= 7:?2?4:2= 7@C46 :? E96 >F=E:\DE2E6 EFDD=6 @G6C E96 E62>[ H9:49 C6DF=E65 :? 2 A2:C @7 72:=65 7:?2?4:2= A=2?D 2??@F?465 :? E96 7:?2= 52JD 367@C6 E96 562=]k^Am
kAmq@E9 2=D@ 3C@F89E FA 2?@E96C AC6G:@FD A=2J6C :? y24<D@? r@F?EJ’D DE25:F> D282 \ 7@C>6C r@F?EJ tI64FE:G6 uC2?< (9:E6 yC][ H9@D6 C646?E E6C> H2D >2C<65 3J 2? @AA@D:E:@? E@ 7F?5:?8 E96 r9:67D]k^Am
kAmq@E9 D6ED @7 C6>2C<D A@CEC2J65 E96 6>32EE=65 7@C>6C 4@F?EJ 6I64FE:G6 2D 2 =@?8\E6C> @3DE24=6 E@ y24<D@? r@F?EJ’D A2CE:4:A2E:@? :? DE25:F> ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 E96 r9:67D – 2D H6== 2D E96 #@J2=D[ E@ D@>6 6IE6?E]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< uC2?< (9:E6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 2 =6824J 2D 2 8C62E 32D632== A=2J6C[†{F42D D2:5 |@?52J] “x E9:?< E96C6 H:== 36 2 =@E @7 5:D4FDD:@?D[ 2?5 AC@323=J 27E6C\24E:@?D[ 23@FE H92E 92AA6?65 H:E9 E96D6 E62>D]]]x 46CE2:?=J H:D9 H6 4@F=5 C6A=2J 2 =@E @7 E9@D6 DE6AD]â€k^Am
kAm(9:E6 H2D C642==65 7C@> @77:46 :? 2 =2?5D=:56 G@E6 :? $6AE6>36C 27E6C @AA@?6?ED C2==:65 E@ 82E96C cb[___ D:8?2EFC6D @G6C EH@ J62CD[ AFEE:?8 (9:E6’D C6>@G2= @? E96 32==@E 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 7@C4:?8 2 Sa >:==:@? DA64:2= 6=64E:@?] %96 C642== A6E:E:@? 42>A2:8? H2D 32D65 :? 62DE6C? y24<D@? r@F?EJ H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E 96=A 7C@> s6>@4C24J :? p4E:@?[ 2 “52C< >@?6J†A@=:E:42= 24E:@? 8C@FA]k^Am
kAm$@ H92E :D (9:E6’D 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 DE25:F> 562=n p?5 H9J :D (9:E6’D ?2>6 324< :? 4@F?EJ A@=:E:4D 2D z2?D2D r:EJ 2?5 y24<D@? r@F?EJ D66< E@ 6IA=2:? E96 r9:67D’ 6I:E E@ C6D:56?EDnk^Am
k9am$E25:F> E2I @AA@D:E:@?k^9am
kAm%96 z2?D2D r:EJ r9:67D 2?5 #@J2=D 4FCC6?E=J 36?67:E 7C@> 2 4@F?EJH:56 ⅜\46?E D2=6D E2I[ H9:49 96=AD A2J 7@C 3@E9 E62>D’ 724:=:E:6D] %96 E2I H2D =2DE 2AAC@G65 :? a___ 2?5 H:== 6IA:C6 :? a_b_[ H9:49 H:== 2=D@ >2C< E96 6?5 @7 3@E9 E62>D’ =62D6D 2E %CF>2? $A@CED r@>A=6I]k^Am
kAmx? pAC:= a_ac[ y24<D@? r@F?EJ G@E6CD H6C6 AC6D6?E65 H:E9 E96 @AE:@? E@ C6?6H E96 E2I 7@C 2?@E96C b_ J62CD[ DE2CE:?8 :? a_b`] %96 C6?6H2= H@F=5 92G6 86?6C2E65 >@C6 E92? Sa 3:==:@? :? C6G6?F6[ A2J:?8 7@C 2 ?6H 32==A2C< 7@C E96 #@J2=D 2?5 D:8?:7:42?E C6?@G2E:@?D 2E pCC@H9625]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E:>6[ (9:E6 DEC@?8=J @AA@D65 E96 E2I[ 6G6? 56=2J:?8 :E E9C@F89 2? F=E:>2E6=J F?DF446DD7F= y2?F2CJ a_ac G6E@]k^Am
kAm'@E6CD 28C665[ D9@@E:?8 5@H? E96 E2I 3J 2 >2C8:? @7 dgT E@ c`T]k^Am
kAm{2E6C E92E DF>>6C[ (9:E6 D6?E 2 =6EE6C E@ E96 E62>D :?5:42E:?8 E92E 96 H@F=5 DFAA@CE AFEE:?8 2?@E96C G6CD:@? @7 2 4@F?EJ D2=6D E2I @? E96 32==@E[ 3FE @?=J :7 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 C6G6?F6 :E 86?6C2E65 H2D C6D6CG65 7@C AC@;64ED @FED:56 @7 E96 DE25:F>D]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ @?46 E96 C6?6H65 E2I H2D D9FE 5@H?[ E96 r9:67D 3682? 6?828:?8 AF3=:4=J :? 5:D4FDD:@?D 23@FE >@G:?8 24C@DD E96 3@C56C \ 2?5 D@=:4:E:?8 7:?2?4:2= :?46?E:G6 AC@A@D2=D 7C@> >F=E:A=6 3@5:6D :? z2?D2D 2?5 |:DD@FC:]k^Am
kAm|@?52J’D 564:D:@? H2D E96 C6DF=E @7 >@C6 E92? 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 @7 @776CD 2?5 4@F?E6C@776CD 7C@> DE2E6 2?5 =@42= @77:4:2=D @? 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 DE2E6 =:?6[ 2 AC@46DD E92E H@F=5 @FE=2DE (9:E6’D ECF?42E65 D64@?5 E6C> 2D 4@F?EJ 6I64FE:G6]k^Am
k9amr2>A2:8? 72==@FEk^9am
kAmx? E96 H66<D =625:?8 FA E@ 9:D C642== 7C@> @77:46[ (9:E6 D2:5 AF3=:4=J >F=E:A=6 E:>6D E92E 96 76=E 9:D @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 DE25:F> E2I H2D 2 D:8?:7:42?E >@E:G2E:?8 724E@C :? 9:D C642==]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E:>6[ (9:E6 E@=5 E96 $E2C E92E E96 C642== 677@CE \ H9:49 DE2CE65 :? a_ab \ 5:5?’E D6C:@FD=J 4@?46C? 9:>]k^Am
kAm“,%96 C642==. H2D AC6EEJ >F49 5625 :? E96 H2E6C F?E:= E96 r9:67D 6=64E:@? 2?5 #@J2=D 6=64E:@?[ E96 E2I 8@:?8 @? E96 32==@E[†(9:E6 E@=5 %96 $E2C :? $6AE6>36C] “p7E6C E92E E2I 72:=65[ E96? 6G6CJ@?6 D2:5 :E H2D uC2?< (9:E6’D 72F=E]â€k^Am
kAm(9:E6’D @AA@?6?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 3@E9 E96 C6D:56?ED H9@ C6>@G65 9:> 7C@> @77:46 2?5 E96 92?57F= @7 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D H9@ G@42==J DFAA@CE65 E96 C642==[ D2:5 E96:C =@DD @7 ECFDE :? (9:E6 H2D 5C:G6? 3J >F=E:A=6 :DDF6D] %96D6 :?4=F565 (9:E6’D :?G@=G6>6?E 2D 4@F?EJ 6I64FE:G6 :? E96 a_ab 2?5 a_ad AC@A6CEJ E2I G2=F2E:@? 4J4=6D 2?5 9:D C@=6 :? E96 56=2J @7 3@E9 E96 25@AE:@? @7 E96 a_ad 4@F?EJ 3F586E 2?5 E96 C6=62D6 @7 7656C2= p#!p 7F?5D]k^Am
kAm(9:E6[ 9@H6G6C[ E@=5 %96 $E2C E92E 96 766=D E96 C642== H2D =2C86=J 7:?2?4:2==J >@E:G2E65 3J >6>36CD @7 s6>@4C24J :? p4E:@? — E96 “52C< >@?6J†!pr >6>36CD[ H9@ 96 D2JD 92:= 7C@> 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 DE2E6 =:?6 — E@ 3C:?8 2?@E96C 6=64E65 @77:4:2= :?E@ A@H6C H9@ >:89E 36 >@C6 H:==:?8 E@ 2==@42E6 255:E:@?2= 7F?5D E@ <66A E96 z2?D2D r:EJ r9:67D 2?5 #@J2=D DE25:F>D :? y24<D@? r@F?EJ]k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ E@=5 %96 $E2C E92E :7 96 H2D C642==65[ 96 6IA64E65 G@E6CD H@F=5 D66 2 C6G2>A65 D2=6D E2I AC@A@D2= @? 4@F?EJ 32==@ED :? pAC:= a_ae]k^Am
kAm{2DE H66<[ {6'@E2 AC@A@D65 6I24E=J E92E[ 2??@F?4:?8 2 4@F?EJ\5C:G6? 7:?2?4:2= :?46?E:G6 A=2? 46?E6C65 @? 2 E96@C6E:42= ?6H D2=6D E2I[ E9:D E:>6 7F?5:?8 @?=J E96 r9:67D]k^Am
kAm{6'@E2’D A=2?[ 5F3365 “~A6C2E:@? $2G6 pCC@H9625[†:?4=F565 2 ad\J62C[ BF2CE6C\46?E AC@A@D65 D2=6D E2I[ H9:49 H@F=5 92G6 DE2CE65 :? a_b` 2?5 H9:49 H@F=5 92G6 366? 244@>A2?:65 3J 7:?2?4:2= 4@>>:E>6?ED 7C@> E96 r9:67D[ E96 DE2E6 @7 |:DD@FC: 2?5 E96 4:EJ @7 z2?D2D r:EJ] %96D6 7F?5D H@F=5 92G6 DFAA@CE65 2 D:8?:7:42?E C6?@G2E:@? @7 pCC@H9625 $E25:F> 2?5 8:G6? E96 r9:67D 7F== FD6 @7 %CF>2? $A@CED r@>A=6I]k^Am
kAm~A6C2E:@? $2G6 pCC@H9625 H2D 2??@F?465 @? s64] `h[ E9C66 52JD 367@C6 |@?52J’D 2??@F?46>6?E 7C@> z2?D2D 2?5 E96 r9:67D] pE E96 E:>6[ {6'@E2 D2:5 96 H2D 4@?7:56?E E92E y24<D@? r@F?EJ G@E6CD H@F=5 DFAA@CE E96 AC@A@D65 ?6H E2I 56DA:E6 E96:C C6D:DE2?46 :? pAC:=]k^Am
kAm“x 36=:6G6 E96J H2?E E96 r9:67D E@ DE2J[†{6'@E2 D2:5 2E E96 E:>6] “p?5 x 36=:6G6 E96J H:== @G6CH96=>:?8=J A2DD 2 32==@E :?:E:2E:G6 6IE6?5:?8 E96 E2I 2?5 6G6? =@H6C:?8 :E]â€k^Am
k9am$E2==:?8 AC@8C6DDnk^9am
kAm{6'@E2 2?5 {F42D[ 9@H6G6C[ D2:5 E9:D H66< E92E (9:E6’D 9:DE@C:4 @AA@D:E:@? E@ 255:E:@?2= DE25:F> 7F?5:?8 D:8?:7:42?E=J 92?5:42AA65 E96 4:EJ 2?5 4@F?EJ’D C646?E 677@CED E@ 4@?G:?46 E96 E62> E@ DE2J]k^Am
kAm{6'@E2 D2:5 |@?52J E92E 96 766=D E92E |:DD@FC: >:89E 92G6 925 2 36EE6C D9@E 2E 4@?G:?4:?8 E96 E62> E@ DE2J \ H:E9 7:?2?4:2= :?46?E:G6D >@C6 :>>65:2E6=J 2G2:=23=6 7C@> y24<D@? r@F?EJ \ :7 (9:E6’D C642==[ 2?5 9:D @H? 2AA@:?E>6?E 2D 4@F?EJ 6I64FE:G6[ 925 92AA6?65 62C=:6C E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAmq@E9 {F42D 2?5 {6'@E2 6>A92D:K65 |@?52J E92E E96:C 8@G6C?>6?ED 92G6 366? H@C<:?8 >@C6 4=@D6=J E@86E96C D:?46 (9:E6’D C642==[ 2?5 E92E 3@E9 92G6 366? C646?E=J 6?82865 :? :?4C62D65 \ 2?5 4@?D:DE6?E \ 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 3@E9 v@G] |:<6 z69@6 2?5 E96 r9:67D’ @H?6CD9:A E62>]k^Am
kAm“x DFC6 H:D9 x H@F=5 92G6 366? 96C6 D@@?6C[†{6'@E2 D2:5 |@?52J] “]]]x’G6 962C5 2 =@E :? E96 >65:2[ BF6DE:@?D 23@FE >J DA64:7:4 A@D:E:@? C6=2E65 E@ 2== @7 E9:D[ 2?5 x E9:?< :E H2D 2 56EC:>6?E E@ E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 96C6 367@C6] x E9:?< :E H2D ?@E @?=J 2 DA6653F>A 3FE 2 C@253=@4<]â€k^Am
kAmp ?6H DE25:F> E2I[ >62?H9:=6[ H@F=5 92G6 C6BF:C65 G@E6C 2AAC@G2= :? E96 7@C> @7 2 4@F?EJH:56 32==@E >62DFC6] sFC:?8 9:D C6>2C<D @? |@?52J[ {F42D D2:5 E92E z2?D2D’ 7F?5:?8 AC@A@D2= \ H9:49 C6=:6D =2C86=J @? $%p# 3@?5D 2AAC@G65 2E E96 DE2E6 =6G6= \ 925 E96 25G2?E286 @7 :?4=F5:?8 7F?5:?8 D@FC46D E92E 5@?’E C6=J @? 2 AF3=:4 G@E6]k^Am
kAm“p=E9@F89 @FC 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 E96 E62> 6IE6?565 E@ 2D C646?E=J 2D =2E6 =2DE H66<[ H6 F?56CDE2?5 @FC G6CJ 72:C[ 3FE G6CJ C6DA@?D:3=6 7:?2?4:2= @776C @7 E2IA2J6C DFAA@CE H2D DFCA2DD65 E9FD 72C 3J 2? 6G6? >@C6 C@3FDE AF3=:4 7:?2?4:?8 A24<286 :? z2?D2D[†{F42D D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:E6 H2D C6>@G65 7C@> @77:46 @? $6AE] b_] {6'@E2 H:== 7:?:D9 @FE 9:D E6C> – H9:49 6?5D @? y2?] `[ a_af – 2?5 92D AF3=:4=J A=65865 ?@E E@ D66< 2 7F== E6C>]k^Am
See life in 51ºÚÁÏ the week of Dec. 7, 2025 through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
Post-Dispatch
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
