Kansas might be giving money to Clark Hunt.

The clock is ticking in Kansas for the owner of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs franchise, Clark Hunt, and the owner of Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals franchise, John Sherman, to accept funding from the state to build a football venue and a baseball stadium. The deadline is December 31^st. But there could be some movement in Kansas three days before Christmas. The Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council is meeting to discuss giving money to Clark for a Chiefs’ venue and while Sherman is not involved in this session, there seems to be a feeling among Kansas politicians that Sherman has decided to move his operation from Missouri to Kansas. So much so that Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson thinks that a deal is nearly done. “Senate President Masterson believes the Kansas City Royals are fully committed to Kansas, which fulfills their obligation regarding the advanced timeline given from the LCC,” a spokesperson said.

The problem began in April 2024 when Jackson County, Missouri voters said no to extending a sales tax that would have funded a Royals’ downtown stadium and a renovation of Hunt’s Chiefs’ football venue. Kansas lawmakers approved a proposal that would see STAR bonds used to help pay 75% of the cost of building two stadiums in Kansas. Additionally, sports gambling and lottery gaming and sales tax revenue from businesses in the stadium development districts would cover bond debt. Another source of revenue to pay off the debt would come from a liquor tax. Kansas lawmakers could use a mechanism that would allow up to 100% of sales tax revenue on alcoholic liquor sales within a stadium district to pay off bonds for the structures. Missouri leaders don’t think there is a done stadium deal in Kansas. They can use the Missouri born Yogi Berra’s quote to prove their point. It ain’t over til it’s over.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Arrowhead Stadium

Uganda players missed Saturday’s training session ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening game against Tunisia later on Tuesday. 

The Cranes stayed back at their base camp, the Ritz Carlton Rabat as a form of protest over bonus promises by the Ugandan Football Federation. 

The latest development came as a setback for Paul Put’s side who were the first team to arrive Morocco for the tournament that begins on Sunday.

Sports Talk Florida confirmed that the protest was led by senior players in the squad who are unhappy about the proposed €6,000 bonus for qualification from the first round.

A timely intervention by Uganda FA President, Moses Magogo late on Saturday night resolved the crisis and the Cranes are set to resume training on Sunday. 

After missing the last two editions, Uganda will be making their eighth appearance on the AFCON stage in Morocco.

The East African nation are in Group C and they will first take on Tunisia on December 23 followed by Tanzania and a final fixture against Nigeria on December 30. 

Uganda are yet to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy and their best result in the tournament was in 1978 when they finished as runners-up.

President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in every four years, starting from 2028. 

The flagship African football showpiece that brings together the best 24 footballing countries on the continent following a year-long qualification phase.

Motsepe made the announcement during a press conference on the eve of the AFCON 2025 opening ceremony in Rabat that had in attendance key CAF executives. 

After the current edition in Morocco, three East African nations – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are set to host the AFCON 2027 which would be the last in the two-year cycle of the competition. 

Following in the steps of their European and CONCACAF counterparts, the African football governing body also adopted the creation of a new African Nations League that will begin after 2027. 

The new tournament will be similar to Europe’s Nations League with more competitive matches, increased commercial revenue and regular high-level games for national teams. 

Furthermore, CAF announced that AFCON 2025 winner will walk away with $10 million, a 43 per cent increase from the $7 million pocketed by Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 edition.

The 35th edition of the AFCON will kick-off in Morocco on Sunday with the Atlas Lions taking on Comoros at the newly constructed 69,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.