KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Citing a lack of interest by the city, the American Royal is halting planning and fundraising for a new events center in Kansas City.
A letter sent to City Councilman Ed Ford late Monday by an attorney for the American Royal said the debate over the future of the Kemper Arena had taken a detrimental turn. Council members were considering the American Royals proposal for a $50 million events center to replace the aging arena, but said legally they needed to explore other potential options, The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/1rphrWn) reported.
Attorney Korb Maxwell also wrote the American Royal does not believe the city had to consider other options, and will not respond to a request for proposals seeking good future uses of the property.
Six weeks ago, the City Council was weighing two proposals for the property, including one from the American Royal, which had raised about $15 million for its plan to demolish Kemper Arena and replace it with an events center. The Royal wanted the city to put up $30 million for the new building, plus $1 million per year operating subsidy for 30 years. The organization also said it would seek $20 million in state tax credits for the project.
A different developer, Foutch Brothers, had proposed saving Kemper Arena and converting it to a regional youth sports facility, arguing that there's plenty of land for both Kemper Arena and a new American Royal building.
Foutch dropped those plans after the American Royal sent a "cease and desist" letter in mid-October, saying the developer's proposal interfered with the Royal's long-term lease with the city for the complex, which runs through 2045.
The Royal's request, taxpayer dollars and the requirement to demolish Kemper Arena prompted a vocal backlash from the historic preservation community and others against the plan.
The letter made it clear that the American Royal was stung by that criticism.
"It is unfortunate that a conversation about what to do with Kemper Arena has morphed into a hostile debate on whether or not Kansas City supports the American Royal," Maxwell wrote. "The City has made it clear that investing in the American Royal is not a priority."
Ford, who said Tuesday he was disappointed with the Royal's decision, plans to recommend a "cooling-off period" until after the first of the year.