The Kansas City Wizards stadium situation blew up yesterday with the announcement that the pro soccer franchise just might abandon the Bannister Mall redevelopment for a stadium deal in KCK's Village West. They even had this spiffy drawing (created by awkwardly named Populous) to show that it's a real possibility (although Wizards president Robb Heinemann reportedly sounded a little more cautious).
Meanwhile, WyCo leaders are all aflutter with the idea of luring the team, which has already played two season in the 'Dotte at Community/America Ballpark, and those sweet, sweet Cerner jobs, so the UG Board "voted unanimously in favor of a memorandum of understanding with the developer."
And here's the latest from the Star with a lot of shocked K.C. politicos wishing they had more economic development tools.
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It is partly a state funding issue, to be sure. But KCMO has also TIFed itself beyond all recognition, leaving projects like this without money.
Believe it or not, this issue is more about STATE funding tools than CITY incompetence. Though, that's a given, of course.
Having once been wooed to move my business to either the KS or MO side once, I can tell you for a fact that MO can't compete. And that's even when I would have PREFERRED to be on the Missouri side.
Truly sad.
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