Jackson County creating task force to redevelop Truman Sports Complex

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Truman Sports Complex is once again at the center of conversations as Jackson County leaders announced Thursday morning that a task force of national experts has been created to plan and execute the redevelopment of the well-known Kansas City compound.

At 11 a.m., Jackson County Executive Phil Levota held a news conference to discuss the next steps of the 400-acre, county-owned site and the vision for the longtime home of Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.

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"The site is more than just stadiums," he said. "It's a generational issue, and a generational asset."

LeVota began the news conference by stating that the county has considered many plans for the site, even acknowledging that the easiest decision would be to transform the large county lot into a data center. However, that is not in the county's plans.

Instead, LeVota said he wants to turn the Truman Sports Complex into a "vibrant, economically-driven space that contributes to the financial engine of the region."

According to the county executive, this goal will be made possible by a group of experts, known as the "Sports Complex Redevelopment Task Force," who will band together to plan and propose ideas for the future of the complex.

Starting on April 15, the task force, which will be comprised of 10 to 15 business leaders, developers and community stakeholders, will have 90 days to "dig in, ask the right questions, investigate and make a vision" for what the site can become.

The group is expected to review past proposals for the land, identify new ideas for economic development and look into areas in the west for expansion.

LeVota added that this process, although time-bound and tedious, will not be driven by political pressure or outside business interests. Instead, it is about building community and opportunity for the county.

By the end of August or the beginning of September, LeVota said the county expects a full framework and plan for the Truman Sports Complex.

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After these plans are set into motion, LeVota said a "Master Redevelopment Commission" will be created to guide the process and keep it in line with its mission and goals over the next five years.

LeVota added that the first step in the redevelopment process is not looking at the complex as a "single-use facility," but seeing it as a space that can be utilized year-round and optimized best for county use.

He then presented six renderings for the site that show different visions of what the Truman Complex could be, with one rendering showing Arrowhead as a horse racing track.

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Although there are no plans in place for the county lot as of now, LeVota said the future of the sports complex "cannot sit on a shelf."

"We must do this the right way: transparently, collaboratively, and in partnership with the entire community," he said. "Because this isn't just about teams or leases; it's about what we want Jackson County to look like for the next generation."

The announcement comes after the Kansas City Chiefs and officials in Wyandotte County, Kansas, confirmed in December 2025 that the team plans to move to a new stadium across the state line, leaving the Show Me State after more than 60 years.

The move marked a historic gain for the state of Kansas and another heartbreaking loss in the world of professional football for Missouri.

It also comes after years of proposals, county-wide elections and conversations about a new Royals ballpark in or near downtown Kansas City. Currently, the team is not expected to renew its lease at the Truman Sports Complex after it ends in January 2031.

"This is about taking a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to one of our county's most important assets and making sure we get it right for the future," LeVota said.

Back in December, County Legislator Manny Abarca wrote a letter to LeVota that outlined a plan to set aside money from the existing Repair, Maintenance, Management, and Operations (RMMO) fund for the potential demolition of one or both stadiums, as well as the redevelopment of the land, at the end of 2031.

According to Abarca, the land could be a huge benefit to the county, potentially giving it the space to transform the lot into a county park, a public housing site, a mass transit route or something else that focuses on the community.

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"There's a lot of opportunity, right? Its geographic location is really center of our county."

Every year, a 3/8 cent sales tax in Jackson County sends roughly $55 million to help the complex's upkeep and renovations. If half of that money were saved over the next five years, the county could save more than $137 million.

Now, after more than 50 years along the Interstate 70 corridor, the Truman Sports Complex is set to be reimagined, ushering in a new era for the beloved, dual-stadium site in Kansas City.

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