The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday (Dec. 22) that they will end their 60-year partnership with Arrowhead Stadium and move to a new $3 billion indoor stadium. The new stadium will be built in Kansas City, Kansas, and is expected to be completed and open before the start of the 2031 season.
According to multiple media reports, the Kansas State Legislature previously passed a significant motion allowing the issuance of Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds that could cover up to 70% of the costs of the stadium and surrounding mixed-use development projects. The bonds will be repaid with sales and alcohol tax revenues generated in specific areas surrounding the stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said the location of the game will change, but the team culture will not. “Our fans will still be the most passionate fans in the NFL, and we will still fight for championships. This decision is an important step in moving the Chiefs into the next generation of teams.”
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According to plans, the new stadium will be located near Kansas Speedway and next to “The Legends,” an entertainment and commercial district. With a seating capacity of approximately 65,000 spectators, it will be slightly smaller than Arrowhead Stadium but will meet the trend of modern professional sports stadiums by adding premium seating, a premium viewing experience and multi-purpose space.
The team also plans to build a $300 million training facility in Olathe, Kansas, further expanding its presence in the state. The province estimates the project will create more than 20,000 construction jobs and deliver long-term benefits to the local economy.
In contrast, the announcement had significant ramifications in Missouri politics. The Missouri state government initially actively pursued funding to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and renovate Arrowhead Stadium, but ultimately failed. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas firmly stated that Arrowhead Stadium is not just a stadium but a symbol of the city’s culture and spirit, and that this decision was a huge disappointment to fans.
Two NFL teams have left Missouri before, both in St. Louis. The Cardinals moved from Chicago in 1960 to Phoenix, Arizona in 1988, and the Rams moved from Anaheim, California to St. Louis in 1995, but due to a lack of funds to build a new stadium, they eventually returned to Los Angeles in 2016 to build the $5 billion-plus SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
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