The Kansas City Chiefs will leave their long-time home in Missouri and play in a new stadium in the neighboring state of Kansas. The National Football League (NFL) franchise made the announcement on Monday after lawmakers in Kansas gave the green light to fund the project. The arena is being built in Wyandotte County west of Kansas City and is scheduled to be completed for the 2031 season. The costs amount to around three billion US dollars.
“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” said club boss Clark Hunt in a statement. “We are thrilled to partner with Kansas State to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project is another step in our legacy of innovation and fan-first mentality.”
Kansas City Chiefs in a difficult sporting phase
The Chiefs have played their home games at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972. The new arena will be completely covered and include an entertainment district. The organization also plans to build a training center in Kansas. Financing is carried out through a public-private partnership, which does not provide for additional funds from the state budget or new taxes for citizens.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke of “a great day for Kansas City Chiefs fans” and announced that the stadium would also be used for concerts and other major events.
The announcement comes at a difficult time in terms of sport: the team missed the play-offs for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
