93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
UPDATE: Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) plans to sign bipartisan World Cup legislation Thursday afternoon at Kansas City’s GEHA field at Arrowhead Stadium. The bill-signing ceremony begins at 2:05 in the stadium’s north club.
HERE IS OUR ORIGINAL STORY THIS MORNING:
The top Democrat in the Missouri Senate says a bipartisan bill approved by lawmakers was critical to Kansas City being named as a 2026 World Cup host city.
Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence) carried the bill this year. Senate Bill 652 provides a sales tax exemption for 2026 World Cup tickets to matches at Arrowhead Stadium.
“And when you commit to a city, what had happened in the past was shortly before the tickets went on sale, they would jack up the sales tax on all the tickets. So it was almost a requirement by FIFA to be able to have some assurances that their sales tax rates weren’t going to get hiked up, making the tickets go through the roof,” Rizzo says.
Leader Rizzo tells 939 the Eagle that a bill-signing ceremony with Governor Mike Parson is still being planned.
He predicts the 2026 World Cup will generate $695-million in economic activity for Missouri. Rizzo compares it to multiple Super Bowls over a 30-day period.
“It is going to reach all the way to Columbia more than likely with people flying in town from all across the world. The hotel space and restaurants and bars … and (it’s) just going to be an exciting time,” says Rizzo.
Rizzo also credits two Republicans for their role in getting the bill approved: Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and State Rep. Jonathan Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit).
