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Dem Rep Brands NFL Billionaire ‘Welfare King’ Over Team Move

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Kansas City Chiefs
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Rep. Brendan Boyle torched billionaire Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt after the franchise revealed plans to relocate by the 2031 season.

The Chiefs announced they intend to build a state-of-the-art stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, backed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.

Boyle aimed straight at Hunt’s wealth and the public funding behind the move, unloading in a fiery post on X that framed the decision as a betrayal of working Americans.

“Clark Hunt: the biggest Welfare King in America. Billions of taxpayer money going to this billionaire, while working people suffer. Just a disgrace,” the Pennsylvania Democrat wrote, unleashing a line that spread quickly as debate over stadium subsidies flared.

The dispute centers on how Kansas won the Chiefs away from Missouri by offering aggressive public financing, setting off backlash from lawmakers and fans alike.

Kansas outbid Missouri by leaning on STAR bonds that will cover up to 70% of the stadium’s cost, a move critics say shifts enormous risk onto taxpayers.

Missouri had approved a plan last summer that would have paid up to half the cost of new stadiums for both the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, but that deal ultimately fell apart.

Voters in Jackson County, which owns the Truman Sports Complex in Missouri, rejected an extension of a 3/8-cent sales tax that would have funded Arrowhead Stadium improvements and helped finance a new Royals ballpark.

That vote slammed the door on Missouri’s proposal and forced both franchises to explore alternatives. The Chiefs made their move, and Kansas lawmakers responded rapidly.

Kansas legislators voted unanimously to allow the state to cover 60% of the cost of the new stadium, along with a training facility and a surrounding retail and entertainment district.

The bonds will be paid off through state sales and liquor tax revenues collected in a defined zone around the development, locking public funding into the project for years to come.

Hunt framed the relocation as a regional win, pointing to major events and economic upside tied to a modern venue.

“The benefit to the entire region will be monumental,” Hunt said during the announcement, casting the stadium as a magnet for global attention. “A stadium of this caliber will put Kansas City in the running for Super Bowls, Final Fours, and other world class events.”

“A brand new training facility and headquarters will allow the Chiefs to continue to attract top talent,” he added. “And the vision for a new mixed-use district will rival that of any sports-anchored development anywhere in the country.”

A domed stadium would position the Chiefs as a potential Super Bowl host while opening the door to concerts, tournaments, and large-scale cultural events throughout the year.

Hunt’s finances remain a flashpoint in the fight. Hunt and his family are worth $1.6 billion, according to Forbes, a figure that fuels claims that billionaires should not rely on taxpayer-backed bonds to fund private sports empires.

The relocation would not mark the first move in franchise history, a reminder that loyalty and geography have shifted before.

The Chiefs were originally the Dallas Texans and won the American Football League championship before relocating to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1963.

The team initially played at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, setting roots that now appear ready to be pulled up once again.

As the stadium drama unfolds, turmoil on the field has deepened the sense of uncertainty surrounding the franchise.

Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is grinding through an intense rehabilitation program after suffering a torn ACL and LCL in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last month.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed that Mahomes is putting in long hours as he tries to beat the odds and return for the start of next season.

“He’s in the building working and doing his rehab, spending a lot of hours doing it,” Reid said this week, offering a glimpse into the quarterback’s daily routine.

“He’s really attacked that and will continue to do that. He’s around and sees the guys, but most of his time is being spent rehabbing.”

The injury leaves Mahomes racing the calendar. Recovery for a multi-ligament knee injury typically spans nine to 12 months, creating uncertainty about his availability for Kansas City’s Week 1 game in early September.

The setback capped a miserable stretch for the Chiefs, with the loss to the Chargers officially eliminating them from playoff contention.

The collapse marked a stunning milestone for the franchise. For the first time in a decade, the four-time Super Bowl-winning team will miss the postseason after falling 16-13 at home to Los Angeles.

That reality hit hard inside the organization and among its leadership.

Tavia Hunt, Clark Hunt’s wife, shared an emotional message on Instagram moments after the playoff elimination, reflecting on the disappointment and its deeper meaning.

“Today didn’t end the way we hoped. After a season full of effort and heart, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade stings — and it’s okay to feel that disappointment,” she wrote, capturing the mood of a stunned fan base.

 

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A post shared by Tavia Hunt (@taviahunt)

Her message turned spiritual as she widened the lens beyond the NFL.

“Football teaches us a lot about perseverance, humility, and resilience. Not every game ends in a win, and following Jesus never comes with a promise of ease or comfort. But it does come with the promise that God is at work — faithfully and purposefully — even in seasons that hurt,” she added.

Tavia Hunt continued by anchoring hope beyond the scoreboard. “Our trust isn’t in outcomes, but in a God who remains steady when everything else feels uncertain,” she wrote.

“Life is bigger than football, even when football means so much. Our ultimate hope isn’t found in a playoff berth or a trophy — it’s anchored in eternity.”

She closed with gratitude, writing, “Grateful for this team, this community, and the journey — through every high and every hard.”

Mahomes also broke his silence after the loss, posting a raw message on X that underscored the emotional toll the team.

“Don’t know why this had to happen,” he wrote. “And not going to lie [it] hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.”

The quarterback’s injury woes were compounded by problems behind him on the depth chart.

Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew was injured during the team’s next road loss to the Tennessee Titans, tearing ligaments in his knee as well.

Kansas City then fell 20-13 to the Denver Broncos with third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun under center, deepening the slide.

Questions continue to swirl around the future of veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who has stayed tight-lipped about whether this season will be his last.

His potential departure carries ripple effects beyond the field, including for stadium workers who have grown accustomed to seeing his fiancé, pop superstar Taylor Swift, on game days.

One Arrowhead Stadium employee, Robyn Gentry, described an unexpected Christmas moment that quickly went viral.

Swift, she wrote in a Facebook group, handed out cash tips to workers on Christmas Day, including a $600 gift that left Gentry stunned.

Swift “was running around telling everyone merry Christmas and came towards me, saying thank you so much for working on Christmas, please take this, Merry Christmas. My mind just froze. Of course I said Merry Christmas and thank you so much,” Gentry recalled.

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