Official: Amendment could cost Kansas City $50 million

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City could lose more than $50 million a year in economic activity connected to sports events if voters approve a constitutional amendment that would allow some Missouri business owners to refuse services for same-sex weddings because of their religious beliefs, said Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission.

The proposed amendment would prohibit government legal action against businesses and professionals who refuse to provide wedding-related services of "expressional or artistic creation" to same-sex couples.

The measure has passed the Missouri Senate and is pending in the House.

The NCAA, Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference, have expressed concerns the amendment would not support the rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, and said it could cost Missouri athletic events in the future.

The NCAA is considering bids from cities for events in all men's and women's sports in all divisions through the year 2022. That makes the debate on the amendment particularly troubling, Nelson said.

"Of all years for this to play out, it's playing out in a bid cycle," Nelson said. "This could impact events held in our city for the next 10 years."

In 2013, the NCAA awarded Kansas City 16 championships through 2018, more than any city in the country.

Next year, the city will host the Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship, NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball, NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Regionals and several soccer championships. It also will host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Those events are expected to bring in $51.1 million in economic activity and $3.1 million on state tax revenue.

Indiana passed a similar bill last year but repealed it after criticism, including from the NCAA, which has its headquarters in Indianapolis. Indiana officials estimate the state lost $60 million in convention and tourism business because of the controversy. On Monday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a similar "religious freedom" bill after major corporations and Hollywood groups threatened to boycott the state if it became law.