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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas defends Missouri bid for Chiefs ahead of Kansas announcement

A man wearing a blue suit and tie sits inside a radio studio. He is talking at a microphone and gesturing with both hands.
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas talks about the Chiefs possibly moving to Kansas on KCUR's Up To Date on Dec. 22, 2025.

The Chiefs could be on the verge of announcing a move to Kansas. Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas joined Up To Date to discuss where things stand ahead of a planned "special announcement" by Kansas lawmakers on Monday afternoon.

Today could be the day that the Chiefs reveal their team's future.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is set to make a "special announcement" after a meeting of key legislative leaders in Kansas later this afternoon regarding a proposal between the state and the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, in Jackson County, leaders are making a plea to keep the team.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told KCUR on Monday morning that Kansas City, Missouri, has been having "robust" conversations alongside state and Jackson County officials with the Chiefs as recently as last week.

"I don't like to negotiate in the public, but I think it is worthy of public recognition that the state of Missouri, Kansas City and our partners have put up about an offer north of $1.5 billion for the team to remain in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. That is a robust commitment, potential commitment, of taxpayer resources. It speaks to the value of the team," Lucas said.

"I'm proud of the offers that I think that we have put out and until I hear from the Hunt family or the Kansas City Chiefs, I consider us still in negotiations."

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
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