John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
Gov. Kelly of Kansas has asked the State Legislature to devote $10 million to the upgrade of infrastructure at the Sporting Kansas City’s soccer stadium in Wyandotte County ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Matches will be played in Kansas City during the World Cup.
Tournament actions will take place at the Missouri home of the Kansas City Chiefs – Arrowhead Stadium.
But Rep. Ken Rahjes, an Agra Republican who said he was not a fan of soccer, queried why Gov. Kelly would want the lawmakers to dump $10 million into a soccer facility when the state had so many other needs.
According to him, he could come up with 20 areas in which the $10 million could be better spent.
“Why is this needed so bad?” Rahjes asked.
READ ALSO: Why 2026 FIFA World Cup Will Be Huge Financial Project
Gov. Kelly had also proposed an $820 million payment to Kansans residents who did their tax returns filings.
The proposal was part of the ideas the Democratic governor submitted for consideration by the Republican-led Legislature later this week as work on the new budget draws to a close.
Most legislators were particularly reported to have kicked against her idea of providing Kansans residents who filed tax returns a one-time $450 cash payment at summer in line with given Kansas special budget surplus.
Although the gift would cost the state treasury $820 million, there are clear indications that it would not cut into Kansas’ cash reserves over the next several years compared to the Kansas Legislature’s broad tax-reduction bill she had vetoed.
According to Adam Proffitt, the governor’s budget director and secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration, the $10 million would be used to bring Sporting Kansas City’s facility up to speed with expectations on professional soccer venues.
Proffitt said that specificinfrastructure targets would be to improve lighting and sound systems in Sporting Kansas City stadium as well as to establish an outdoor entertainment pavilion near the stadium to support future economic development.
“It would also get them into a position they could host some international matches in advance of the World Cup,” the budget director said in a presentation to members of the House and Senate budget committees.
The FIFA World Cup occurs every four years and was regarded as most prestigious and widely viewed sporting event on the planet. The competition in 2026 will be hosted by three countries serving 48 participating nations. Kansas City would be among U.S. cities hosting soccer matches.
According to Kansas Reflector, a local newspaper, Kelly included in her revised budget blueprint a request for nearly $600 million in school aid for special education, $65 million for state worker salary increases, $220 million for a program to help cities and counties qualify for federal infrastructure funding and the $820 million one-time payments to Kansans.
