With the recent success of the World Cup in Kansas City, it’s clear we are a unique city, blending a rich sports tradition and offering hope that we can bring another professional sports team. So, is that possible? Could Kansas City be a hub for an NHL or NBA team?
I’m old enough to remember when the Kansas City Scouts played in the NHL, and the Kansas City Kings did the same in the NBA. Both teams played at Kemper Arena, and for the most part, both franchises were well received.
However, internal ownership torpedoed both teams, and eventually they left Kansas City, taking whatever cash they could to appease their investors. In 1976, the Scouts moved to Denver and became the Colorado Rockies. They’d move again in 1982, becoming the New Jersey Devils, where they remain today.
At the dawn of the era of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird in the NBA, the Kings moved to Sacramento in 1985. It’s a shame Kansas City didn’t cash in on the NBA’s evolution into the league it is today. After those superstars made their debuts, the value of NBA teams skyrocketed.
Perhaps Kansas City will get another chance now?
I don’t think the NHL will make a move to Kansas City. When the Sprint Center was under construction, it was a foregone conclusion that the Pittsburgh Penguins were a lock to move there. However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman torpedoed the deal through a backdoor negotiation with Penguins ownership and the city of Pittsburgh, which paved the way for a new lease and stadium.
In other words, he used Kansas City, and this city should never forget it!
Over the past several days, the Portland Trail Blazers have made noise about leaving Portland for greener pastures. Though the NBA is adamant about expanding to Las Vegas and Seattle, NBA owners will never allow Portland to move to either of those cities.
The team rights could generate billions in franchise fees for NBA owners. If it’s a relocation to another city, those fees may not be as steep, but a vote by the owners is required when a team is poised to move – something that could be embraced if Kansas City is the location.
In March, Tom Dundon, who also owns the Carolina Panthers in the NHL, purchased the Blazers from the estate of the late Paul Allen for $2 billion. He immediately began negotiations with the city to upgrade the Moda Center, which has been home to the Blazers since 1995.
The issue is that the city, not the Blazers, owns the stadium, and the city is reluctant to invest nearly $700 million in much-needed upgrades and repairs. At this point, Dundon is making demands and threatening to relocate the franchise.
To support my earlier point, Dundon could have purchased the rights to the Las Vegas franchise but instead chose to buy the Trailblazers to have more say in its future home. It was a shrewd move. Though the NBA has its issues, in his view, buying a struggling franchise made more sense than starting a new one, which would require far more cash and investment.
So, how does Kansas City fit in?
With the T-Mobile Center reserved for concerts and the Big XII Basketball tournament, it could easily host 80 NBA dates. However, Kansas City remains an open question regarding an NBA team, and rumors suggest that at one point New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte inquired about relocating their respective franchises to Kansas City.
Before we get ahead of the game in Kansas City, someone from the community must step up to convince Dundon that the NBA can thrive in our city. While several billionaires call Kansas City home, one of them could be Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
He was heavily involved in efforts to bring a WNBA franchise to Kansas City alongside his KC Current partners. They fell short in this round of expansion but are on track to secure a new franchise in 2032 or 2033. However, if the Trail Blazers want to jump that timeline, given their lease in Portland until 2031, it would require some financial gymnastics, local ownership, and city cooperation to swing the deal.
I’ve been told that Mahomes would be interested in joining an NBA franchise in Kansas City. After all, he already has ownership interests in the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC, and KC Current, as well as a significant investment in Formula One.
So, it’s reasonable to assume he could take the lead recruiting role with Dundon to bring his basketball team to Kansas City. If that happens, the T-Mobile Center would need modest upgrades, and who pays for them will be a sticky issue.
Currently, the city is committed to helping the Royals get their downtown stadium across the finish line. It’s anything but a done deal, and with small fractions muddying the waters, the Royals may end up in Kansas.
Should that occur, city officials had better save face, and securing an NBA or NHL franchise becomes paramount to their political survival.
Personally, I think the NBA has a chance in Kansas City, but it remains to be seen whether Dundon can balance ownership and investment to build a championship roster. The NBA’s salary cap is a complex mess, and Dundon, a rookie NBA owner, will need to find the right people to navigate the financial hoops and to be a successful owner.
He has had tremendous success with the Panthers, most recently winning the Stanley Cup, so he’s riding high and confident he can restore the Trail Blazers on his terms. Dundon has extensive sports experience. He’s also the largest shareholder and Co-Chairman of Topgolf, and Chairman of Pickleball.com, the PBA tour, and Pickleball Inc.
If Mahomes joins the team, he’ll bridge that gap, and this could mark the start of a special partnership with Dundon. It could also open additional options for this duo in Topgolf and Pickleball.
For now, Dundon is prepared to fight the city of Portland until he gets what he wants, and the NBA had better deal with its new Maverick owner. He’s convinced himself he holds all the cards in this fight, and he does.
It’s still early in the game, and it’s a stretch to think Kansas City is in the mix, but as time goes on and there is no resolution with Portland officials, that door cracks open a little more each month.
