H&R Block is now the official tax-preparation partner of the Kansas City Chiefs, under a multiyear deal that runs through the 2030 season and comes with a new contest offering cash, free services and game-day recognition to small businesses across the region.
The companies announced the partnership earlier this month, naming H&R Block the Chiefs’ exclusive tax-preparation partner, according to H&R Block. The tax-prep giant was founded and headquartered in Kansas City back in 1955, making the tie-up with the hometown football team something of a natural fit. As part of the deal, H&R Block will also sponsor the Chiefs’ “Block of the Game” series, a recurring feature that highlights a player after every game, both at Arrowhead and across the team’s social media platforms.
Chiefs Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Development Tyler Kirby said the agreement gives both organizations a chance to reinvest in the city that built them. “Represents a special opportunity to give back to the community that has supported us both for so long,” Kirby said, per the same hrblock.com release. He added that the impact of two hometown organizations collaborating extends beyond business, reaching fans, families and local businesses throughout the area.
A $5,000 Spotlight for Regional Small Businesses
The centerpiece of the partnership’s community push is the Chiefs Small Business Spotlight Contest, created jointly by H&R Block and the team. The contest accepted nominations for small businesses located in Missouri, Kansas or Nebraska, with that nomination window closing earlier in October. Four winning businesses will be chosen, and the public is set to vote on those winners in November.
Each of the four winners will receive a $5,000 cash award, a full year of free H&R Block small-business services, and tickets to a Chiefs home game, where the business will be publicly recognized. The bizjournals.com report on the deal notes that the partnership will also include highlighting small businesses and new signage at Arrowhead Stadium, extending the sponsorship’s visibility well beyond the one-time contest.
H&R Block’s First NFL Deal
The arrangement marks the company’s first partnership with an NFL team, according to bizjournals.com. Beyond the contest and stadium branding, the deal includes broader community outreach and volunteer events, and it will be celebrated internally with H&R Block associates throughout the year.
Small-business showcase deals tied to NFL franchises aren’t unique to Kansas City — the Detroit Lions run a similar program with Comerica that spotlights small businesses across the greater Detroit region, according to DetroitLions.com. For Kansas City, the H&R Block partnership gives local business owners a concrete reason to pay attention to the Chiefs’ off-field calendar this fall, with the four spotlight winners expected to be recognized at a home game after the public vote wraps up next month. The Kansas City Star first reported on the announcement.
