I did a poll about public funding to support the building of stadiums/arenas a few weeks ago after hearing the Bears were going to fund their new stadium completely privately. At the time, I wondered how this would affect a number of other teams that were lobbying their jurisdictions for public dollars to support stadium development or redevelopment.

The "chief" amongst them being in Kansas City where both the Royals and the Chiefs were trying to secure public money via a ballot measure to extend a special sales tax for another 40 years that would help fund a new stadium for the Royals and upgrade Arrowhead for the Chiefs.

The pro tax side pulled out all the stops running a campaign with stars like Mahomes, Kelce and Andy Reid petitioning fans to continue to support the franchise and Chiefs/Royals management desperately tried to frame it as "no new tax" which is technically true, but the original tax was supposed to be temporary not permanent.

Despite the pleas of their sporting heroes the public rejected the ballot measure and axed the tax. 58% no to 42% yes. A clear message that a financially struggling populous has had enough of paying the piper for Billionaire owners and Millionaire athletes.

A sign of the public beginning to fight back against their wallets being constantly pillaged creating a sea change in the way fans look at public financial support of their teams or merely a case of the pendulum having swung too far and heading back to some base level of pocket picking equilibrium? Remains to be seen but certainly an interesting outcome and another blow for any team currently knocking on doors to raise public funds for their private projects.

Sats for all, GR