KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) – Two former football club executives are hoping to fund a $330 million refurbishment of the closed Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas, with sales tax funds.
Robb Heineman, former CEO of Sporting KC, and Greg Cotton, its former leader operating officer and leader litigation officer, have proposed to build a multi-sport complex on the site, which sold in June last year.
Wyandotte-Kansas City County Unified Government officials say the remodeling would “eliminate (the) scourge and political stigma” that has plagued the park since 2016, when a 10-year-old boy was beheaded on a ride advertised as the world’s tallest water slide.
Heineman and Cotton presented their plans Monday to the Wyandotte-Kansas City Unified Government Economic Committee, the Kansas City Star reported.
Developers are seeking $ 130 million in Kansas STAR bonds, originally designed to finance tourist extraction, to bring the project to life. STAR bonuses are among the toughest incentives you can have for developers.
The new complex would come with indoor facilities, shops, offices and entertainment spaces with football, football, baseball and lacrosse, as well as water sports such as paddleboarding, dragon boat racing and kayaking.
Tom Burroughs, who chairs the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Finance, said he devised it as a proper redevelopment plan.
“Having this sports mecca fits perfectly with what we have in western Wyandotte County,” Burroughs said.”I like to call it entertainment.”
Katherine Carttar, director of local economic development, said the county has no plans to offer tax refunds on assets and that developers will get a penny in incentives until they build the first phase of the allocation in Wyandotte County.