MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Move One Step Closer to Soccer-Specific Stadium

Published on December 13, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


The Kansas City, Missouri City Council unanimously approved the city's portion of funding for the $949 million Three Trails Redevelopment project at the Bannister Mall site. State-level tax incentives represent the last major hurdle to clear before the project can begin.

"Today we moved one-step closer to our ultimate goal of having a world-class, soccer-specific stadium for the Kansas City Wizards," said Robb Heineman, President of OnGoal, LLC, the ownership group of the Wizards. "If the state funding is approved early next year as we expect, we will begin constructing a $949 million mixed-use development that will rival the finest in the world. We appreciate the efforts of the entire Kansas City, Missouri City Council and Mayor Mark Funkhouser. They have taken all the correct steps to ensure that the City of Kansas City receives the best deal possible. We are proud to keep the Wizards in Kansas City for the long term."

"As many of you know, I was initially very reluctant to sign off on the Super TIF," Mayor Funkhouser said. "I think that it is a very, very good project and I very much want to see it happen. I want to say that the developers and the city finance staff worked hard to find ways to make reasonable protections that we could put in place to help mitigate the additional risk of the Super TIF."

Funkhouser went on to cast the final "aye" vote, ensuring that all 13 votes went in favor of the project.

Leadership at the state level, including Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and Greg Steinhoff, Director of the Department of Economic Development, have strongly indicated their support for the project. State approval should occur in mid to late February.

If the project is approved, the Kansas City Wizards will play in a state-of-the-art, 18,500-seat stadium that will anchor the development. The soccer complex, which consists of the Wizards stadium, 12 tournament-style soccer fields and a 250-room hotel, will cost $140 million and is slated to open in spring 2010 as part of Phase 1 of the three-phase project. Lane4 Property Group will lead the monumental redevelopment that has won considerable support from residents in the Bannister Mall area.

"I have been involved in one way or another in the community for many years, and I've seen people get out and get petitions signed dealing with redevelopments and they've always gotten petitions signed opposing the developments," KCMO 6th District Councilmember John Sharp said during the council meeting Thursday. "In this project, I'm happy to report that people have gone out door-to-door on their own in favor of this development."

"I could not be more pleased or more excited," KCMO 6th District Councilmember at-large Cathy Jolly said during the meeting. "Today is a great day because we are going to have a great attraction in our community for all of Kansas City to take part in."

Private investors, led by OnGoal, LLC the ownership group of the Kansas City Wizards, will put up 71 percent of the capital required for the project. Public taxing districts will provide the additional 29 percent, mostly through tax increment financing (TIF). TIF projects divert portions of new tax revenues generated by a project to pay off bond debt. By financing a project in this manner, developers ensure that Kansas City constituents will pay no new taxes.

"I think today represents another example of an ownership group that says they will do something and does it," Wizards Head Coach Curt Onalfo said. "They are a group of people who mean business, and when they say something, it gets done. It's a great day for everybody in Kansas City. Whether you're a fan, player or coach, this ensures that there will be world-class soccer in Kansas City forever."

When all three phases of the project are complete, the Three Trails district will contain:

- 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium

- At least 12 tournament-quality soccer fields

- 590 hotel rooms, including one new 250-hotel attached to stadium

- 1,133,000 square feet of mixed-use retail

- 1,700,000 square feet of office space

- 18,249 parking spaces

- 96 parcels of land

- 44 separate owners

Lane4 hopes to begin demolition of Bannister Mall and the Benjamin Plaza during the first quarter in 2008 to stay on track for a 2010 completion of Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 will include:

- 18,500-seat, soccer-specific stadium

- At least 12 tournament soccer fields

- 250-room hotel attached to stadium

- 609,000 square feet of mixed-use retail, stage 1

- 207,000 square feet of mixed-use retail, stage 2

- 610,500 square feet of office space

The project is estimated to create over 6,500 new jobs and $233.7 million in new tax revenue.

Wizards fans who are not currently season ticket holders and want priority seating in the team's permanent home are encouraged to buy 2008 season tickets. Current season ticket holders are already arranged into a priority system based on the original date they purchased season tickets, beginning at the team's inception in 1996. Fans who purchase season tickets for the first time in 2008 will have priority over those who wait until later to do so.

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from December 13, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central