LJWorld.com

Congratulations to Lawrence city commissioners for unanimously voting to let Kansas University officials know of their displeasure over the university's decision to move the traditional Kansas-Missouri football game to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the professional Kansas City Chiefs.

Mayor Mike Amyx said: "This is a huge loss to the community. This idea just didn't work for me at all. I think tradition is worth a million bucks."

Commissioner Sue Hack added: "I think this is something that has created a lot of angst. I don't think that is the direction we're trying to go in our town-gown relationship."

Commissioner Mike Rundle said he was disappointed by the university's action, pointing out that although he recognized the importance of KU to the community, that it was a "mutual relationship."

Amyx pointed out the timing of the move is "horrible" because the game is scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. "This is the busiest shopping weekend of the year, and we're asking people who normally would be in downtown Lawrence or other parts of the community to go out of town."

Not only is it a huge loss for Lawrence area merchants, but consider the thousands of Kansas football fans living in other cities - Topeka, Wichita, Hutchinson, Salina and hundreds of other communities - who will be traveling to Kansas City for the game AND likely will be doing a great deal of Christmas shopping there rather than in their hometowns.

It is too bad the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce did not make a strong statement of disapproval or out-and-out opposition to the move.

Some at KU may suggest the damage to retailers in Lawrence and other Kansas communities is being overstated. In answer to that weak argument, consider a story that appeared in Wednesday's Kansas City Star. The lead paragraph stated: "Replacing a sea of Chiefs red with a sea of black, gold, crimson and blue will mean more green for local and state coffers."

The story notes Jackson County officials were cheering the news that the KU-MU games would be moved to Arrowhead. They said the games will more than make up for what they predict will be a $500,000 "hit" to Missouri and Jackson County from losing a Chiefs home game.

The National Football League now requires that each of the professional teams play a regular season game overseas sometime in the next 16 years. The Chiefs plan to play this game during the next three years when the stadium will be undergoing extensive repairs and modernization. Kansas City and Jackson County officials claim the loss of the game - with sales of tickets, concessions and souvenirs - will cost more than $500,000 in sales tax revenue.

This is just for the football game. Consider what Jackson County and Missouri will gain in retail sales and sales tax through Christmas shopping by Kansans attending this game.

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and Legislative Chairman Dan Tarwater were high in their appreciation for the Chiefs action. Tarwater claims the games will provide a much-needed boost in revenue when the county is facing major budget cuts.

Sanders, an MU alumnus, said the two college games will more than make up for the loss of a single Chiefs game. He added: "This actually has turned out to be a good thing for the taxpayers. On top of the revenue raised, it will be a boon for local vendors, bring a different set of fans and allow us to showcase Kansas City and Jackson County."

It is known past KU athletic directors and chancellors were pressured to approve playing a KU game in Arrowhead, but they did not want to give up an attractive home game. Apparently, the pressure became too great for KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins and Chancellor Robert Hemenway, or the lure of $1 million was more powerful than any concerns about taking a college game off campus or the economic impact it would have on Lawrence and Kansas retailers.

It's unfortunate that a growing number of decisions at KU seem to be driven by the bottom line and pressures from Kansas City individuals rather than what's right for the state and the university.