KC Stadium Issues

For months we’ve been waiting around to hear a final word of sorts that the Kansas City Wizards new stadium would be good to go for construction. It appears some more snags have gotten in the way of that initial construction starting up.

An article came out today in the KC Business Journal talking about the redevelopment of the 3 Trails area, which includes the construction of the Wizards stadium. Usually we welcome news about a potential stadium but this kind of news isn’t always good.

Due to the increase in construction costs recently and a poor economy in general, Lane4, OnGoal, and the other redevelopers are having to add to their request for state tax credits from $10 million to $30 million. It was originally believed that the only thing left was the approval of the Department of Economic Development (DED) to release the funding. But from what this article is talking about it appears that isn’t the case, as the DED won’t approve their end until this is sorted out, which won’t be until the middle of next month.

Should the board not approve the funding, the Wizards will go back to searching for a site. From what I’m reading out there it could be in a suburb outside of Kansas. Probably something most Wizards fans don’t want to see.

Most expected KC to get to work on their stadium back in June but a couple months later things are still floating in the air. Now before you all start the common chants of “move KC to St. Louis or Portland” consider what Bob Rusert from MLSnet wrote today on the subject. Rusert has quotes from people in the Wizards’ organization that downplay the Business Journal article.

A lot of people in KC are frustrated and for good reason. So which side are you on here? Think the project is doomed due to a poor economy or do you think that its just a slight snag that isn’t a big deal right now?