TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! MUST READ!!! EPIC KANSAS CITY KEMPER ARENA DEMOLITION & AMERICAN ROYAL SUBSIDY PUSH BACK!!!

TKC NOTE: We won't stand in the way of an EPIC SCREED that sums up just about everything wrong with Kemper Arena along with a few exceptionally informative tidbits. Check it:

Kemper Arena Demolition and City Borrowing $20 Million for New Arena and $1 Million a Year Operating Subsidy to American Royal Association

We probably have somewhat the same objective on the Kemper Arena issue although you might have additional reasons to oppose its demise. I grew up in rural Missouri and my family had a small farm with no livestock. I could "give a ****" if the American Royal stayed in Kansas City, moved to Wyandotte County or simply folded its tent. I believe the majority of the American Royal supporters wouldn't know which end of a north bound cow to stick the hay into. I don't believe the American Royal as an event does much to boost our city economically nor national prominence. This was not necessarily the case when the National FFA Conventions were held annually in conjunction with the Royal, but that "cattle drive" saddled up and moved on to Louisville, KY some 20 years ago. The Denver Stock Show annually draws over 100,000 attendees and the "Stock Show and Rodeo" in Houston is huge, ( but then isn't everything bigger in Texas). Unfortunately The American Royal attendance has steadily fallen since the FFA left town.

The reason I am interested in the outcome of Kemper Arena is primarily the same as I believe some of the proponents, GREED.

While I firmly believe some proponents believe their proposal to tear down Kemper and build a newer, smaller arena will benefit the city, there are others I believe that are merely looking at this as an opportunity to make money for their companies during the development process at tax payers expense. I want to reduce the cities debt so that my taxes will remain the same or perhaps even lower. I am greedy as well as sick and tired of my tax dollars going to subsidize some toy which has no positive ROI for those that are not financially on the hook.

 I am also sick and tired of politicians whether they reside within the Beltway in DC or work inside the downtown loop at city hall spending our tax dollars like drunken sailors on shore leave after a 9 month deployment. I am sick and tired of politicians arrogance when it comes to their thoughts on constituents intelligence, and I am sick and tired of the same individuals intentionally skewing or totally omitting the facts when they are pushing their personal agendas down the public's throats in the guise of civic good. I am sick and tired of promises made by city hall not being kept. I am extremely sick of hearing how no traveling shows will book their events at Kemper.

 I believe during the campaign to pass the Sprint Center bond issue the proponents led by then Mayor Kay Barnes and her friends with AEG assured skeptical voters that both arenas would be viable because if given the contract to manage both arenas AEG would not allow any dirt or animal events to utilize The Sprint Center. This included Monster Trucks, Moto-cross, the circus and rodeo's. I'm not positive but I believe The American Royal utilizes The Sprint Center for some of their events because it is nicer than Kemper. I guess you could say I am becoming Howard Beale in the 1976 movie "Network".



When The American Royal officials sent the Foutch Brothers a "cease and desist" letter claiming they had exclusive rights to Kemper Arena through their lease with the city I lost all respect for that organization. When the city did not publicly denounce this letter as being false I lost what little faith I had in city hall. When the combined council committees allowed The American Royal to make a 19 minute presentation two weeks ago on behalf of their proposal and then stated other public testimony would be limited to 3 minutes each I viewed this as obstructing citizens right to be heard, This attempt by the council committee reminded me of the same tactics used by the co-chairs of the biased ATAG committee to silence the public's attempt to bring balance and objectivity to the KCI debate. The resultant then as it appeared to me was the facts did not matter as long as the individuals chairing the committee did not agree with them and especially if they supported the oppositions views.

I am glad Dan Cofran basically informed the council committee this form of obstruction was not only wrong but potentially illegal and repercussions next April at the polls could occur. I am also glad the committee chairs heeded these statements and quickly backed down from their "bullying" position. And finally I am thankful Councilman Scott Wagner was perceptive enough to tell the American Royal representatives in his view their proposal was devoid of substance that could be analyzed to determine if it was a good proposal for the tax paying citizens of Kansas City. I am also thankful Councilman Wagner stated replacing a bad lease with another bad lease is not in the best interests of the city.

I would be curious as to how many of the 75 business leaders that signed the American Royal supporting letter actually reside in Kansas City as opposed to Mission Hills, Leawood and other non tax paying municipalities of Kansas City. If these business leaders feel so strongly that their proposal for the future of the American Royal and West Bottoms redevelopment is correct, then I would like to see them "pony up" their money for the entire proposed American Royal proposal including obtaining Kemper Arena and release the tax paying citizens of any fiduciary obligations their "suspect" proposal may cause.

The continued injection of individuals residing outside of the Kansas City city limits reminds me of Clay Chasteins continuous meddling with Kansas City tax payers fiscal obligations on his "ill conceived" "choo choo" train. The same sentiment follows on the proposed KCI debacle as well as our Mayors "choo choo" train initiative that was soundly defeated in the August election. It is easy to spend other peoples money if this is allowed, perhaps some of these suburbanites would like to fund and build a world class Aquarium within Kansas City city limits offering free admission forever, nope I doubt they would think this was a good idea.

I am currently reading Public Dollars, Private Stadiums which follows the various methodologies several cities utilized to "spin" their sports stadium desires through the public process in spite of opposition and what the results were. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding how special interests can sway public obligations. I can see parallels between the content of this book with the American Royal debate as well as similarities with the "choo choo" train and KCI debacle. "