Only the NFL could turn its schedule announcement into an event. And we even know the opponents.

On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell previews the unveiling, and what’s known so far. The Chiefs first’ two games have been identified: home contests against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. What does that mean for the rest of the slate?

Also discussed: What move can the Chiefs made at wide receiver now that free agent Zay Jones has signed with the Arizona Cardinals; an appreciation for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has signed with the Buffalo Bills; impact of new kickoff rules; and do you prefer game shows or horror shows? Travis Kelce is involved with both.

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The winning continues for the Royals as baseball approaches the quarter pole of the season. We’re not longer waiting for the bottom to fall out on a team that dropped 106 games last year and has posted seven consecutive losing record records heading in 2024.

The starting pitching has excelled. The defense is superb, and the Royals are getting enough offense the believe the success is sustainable. On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jaylon Thompson and columnist Sam McDowell explain the surge and why it could develop into a playoff push.

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The Chiefs’ 2024 draft class addressed needs, specifically at wide receiver and offensive tackle, and the team took some fliers on others. Did the Chiefs meet all their goals, and do more positions require more attention?

On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell offers thoughts on all seven selections and looks ahead to how the group will blend with the the two-time defending Super Bowl champion. Who among the newcomers will be counted on immediately, and how will special teams factor in for some?

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The Annual Player Selection Meeting, or informally known as the NFL Draft, kicks off its three-day run on Thursday in Detroit. As Super Bowl champion, the Chiefs own picks No. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, but there should be good depth at the positions of team needs, like wide receiver and offensive tackle.

Will the Chiefs go there? On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell and columnist Sam McDowell provide insights into possibilities for the Chiefs. It might make sense to work a deal to trade up or move back.

If the Chiefs stand pat, we provide names of possible draft targets, players we have identified in the Star’s mock drafts.

The draft, and the undrafted free agent signings afterwards are this important: The backbone of last year’s team was homegrown, with 66 percent (35 of 53) of the roster comprised of Chiefs’ draft picks or undrafted free agents.

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Quite the soccer scene in Kansas City last weekend. Sporting Kansas City took on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami before more than 72,000 last weekend at Arrowhead Stadium. The game, and Messi’s performance lived up the hype in Miami’s 3-2 victory.

On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian look back at the event and what it means for a stadium and region that will host World Cup games in two years.

Also, you’ll from Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, who opened his postmatch press conference by remarking on the historic game.

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The baseball season is about two weeks old, and the Royals are still in it entering a three-game home series against the Houston Astros. The team is off to its best start in three years and it’s a refreshing change from recent seasons.

The starting pitching has been outstanding and players like M.J Melendez, Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., are off to fast starts. On SportsBeat KC, beat writer Jaylon Thompson discusses the team’s solid start and what it will take for the Royals to keep up the pace.

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Jackson County votes have spoken, and they said “no” to a new stadium for the Royals and upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs.

On SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian, who covered the stadium tax campaign from the beginning, share their thoughts on why it failed and what’s next for the teams.

The teams didn’t put together a winning game plan. Now the future of the teams in Jackson County comes into question.

Story links:

Sam McDowell: The Royals and Chiefs should blame themselves, not voters, for stadium tax failures

Vahe Gregorian: After stadium tax whiff, Royals, Chiefs should heed message and work to earn trust

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On April 2, Jackson County residents will decide whether to approve a 3/8-cent sales tax that would fund a new stadium for the Royals and provide upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs.

The tax expected to generate about $2 billion over 40 years. A “Yes,” vote means the Royals will move out of Kauffman Stadium and build a new stadium in the Crossroads District. The Chiefs will stay put and improve the fan experience at Arrowhead.

A “No,” vote means...

No one is certain, but columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian join host Blair Kerkhoff on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, to break down this generational decision. We discuss what the vote means for Kansas City and offer predictions on the outcome.

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The first wave of free agency has passed and the Chiefs were active. It actually started before the period opened when the two-time Super Bowl champion gave Chris Jones a record-setting contract.

In free agency, the Chiefs came away with wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as their big splash, while signing several defensive players in hopes of recreating the magic of the 2023 unit.

The Chiefs aren’t finish. Running back and offense tackle remain positions of need. And what becomes of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who carries the franchise tag? Will the Chiefs seek a trade?

Beat writer Jesse Newell breaks down the free agency work and looks ahead at what might happen next on SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast.

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The Kansas Jayhawks won their most recent battle. How will they fare in the postseason wars? On SportsBeat KC, The Star's sports podcast, beat writers Gary Bedore and Shreyas Laddha break down KU's victory over Kansas State and look ahead to postseason prospects.

The Jayhawks, who entered the season as the nation's top-ranked team but has fallen to No. 14 in the latest poll, do many things well, as it showed in the in the victory over Kansas State earlier this week.,

But it's also a team with fatal flaws. They've been good enough to defeat the nation's top teams, while losing to bottom teams in the Big 12 this season.

KU hasn't missed a tournament since 1989. The program lives for March, but two years after winning the program's fourth NCAA title, can they made a deep run?

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