AEG would like to take back what it said about landing the NHL or NBA in KC, but won't say it
The Kansas City Star
Let me apologize up front for the cynicism but the next time AEG president Tim Leiweke thinks it’s time to break from speaking to Los Angeles rotary clubs long enough to acknowledge his company’s failure to bring an anchor tenant to the Sprint Center, I hope he has something more realistic than what he told our Randy Covitz:
*”Kansas City can take its time. The key is you can chase a team, but you’re going to end up not making a great deal and maybe being disappointed. Or you can wait and not only try to find the right situation, but economically make the right deal.
“We’re not chasing, and I love the mayor’s attitude, which is: ‘Under our terms.’”*
If I can take the liberty of translating Leiweke’s comments to reality:
We either thought we could get a team here or knew we had to mention it to get the fine people of Kansas City to build this arena, but now that we’re making money — and especially now that I’m trying to bring the NFL to LA — I want an NHL or NBA team in Kansas City about as much as I want my hair to look good in the morning: it’d be nice, and I’ll spend a few seconds on it, but either way I’ll go on with my day.
The Sprint Center is a terrific place, still the newest NHL/NBA-level arena in the country, but even if we ignore what sounded like some issues with the game experience last night, the same issue remains and that’s who the heck is going to own this hypothetical Kansas City NHL/NBA team?
Our biggest ally was supposed to be Leiweke’s AEG, but they are clearly less motivated to fight on our behalf now.
The arguments can be made that Kansas City is overextended on sports consumption as is, and there is respected data that can back this up. It would also be extreme to say AEG us over, since the Sprint Center is — at least so far — making money for the city without an anchor tenant.
But it’s also necessary to point out that Leiweke’s talking points about this are disingenuous.
Profit from the building or not, AEG hasn’t lived up to its end of the Sprint Center.
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Greg A
7 months, 2 weeks agoWhat part of the $25M debt (and growing) is Mr. Leiweke referring to when he thinks KC can take their time? AEG was brought in as the heavy for Kay Barnes when she wanted to push through to get her trophy. Does anyone remember this best case scenario that was sold to voters? - If KC builds the arena, it will be next in line to get an anchor tenant which would draw regular adult-aged crowds to the P&L. This would turn more businesses onto the Cordish racket thus shaking down enough money in revenue taxes to pay off the P&L bonds. The next time Sesame Street Live comes to town, Tim better bring his buddies with him and start doing some shots because the P&L is starting to see turnover at an alarming rate. And that is in the properties that have been leased. Filling nights in the arena doesn’t mean squat. Ask Mr. Leiweke how much AEG has to pay the city on their revenue that they keep from arena sales.
I enjoy the arena and often make a night of it downtown when I attend events there. If anyone cares at all about the Sprint Center and wants to see it stay viable and not turn into a high-priced mess, please stay informed and put pressure on all parties to live up to their ends on this.
Sco Jo
7 months, 2 weeks agoCan I just - for the billionth time - point out that we already have three big league franchises and that I never understood the math in the first place that made the city think they could afford to buy tickets and support an NHL or NBA team.
The arena’s great, but I think between the action going down at Arrowhead, Kauffman and LiveStrong KC’s tapped out on sports. Enjoy what you’ve got!