Earlier this month, Dave Helling contributed to a piece for the Kansas City Star's editorial board. In it, the former reporter criticized the handling of the Royals' and Chiefs' stadium negotiations and the lack of public participation in planning.
Helling told KCUR's Up To Date the lack of transparency frustrates even the people who are otherwise likely to support funding for the stadiums, and is likely why the April 2024 sales tax vote failed.
"We're allowing the teams to sort of dictate the terms of these agreements, rather than have the people do it," Helling said. "And in a perfect world, you would have had all kinds of discussions on the neighborhood level."
Up To Date heard from multiple KCUR listeners during the program who expressed their frustrations, including questioning whether a downtown stadium will truly be an economic driver for Kansas City.
- Dave Helling, editorial writer and former Kansas City Star reporter
