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The Kansas City Chiefs made a big announcement on Monday when they revealed their move from Missouri and Arrowhead Stadium to a new domed stadium in Kansas.
The Chiefs, in cooperation with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, announced in a joint statement from owner and chairman Clark Hunt that the team will travel to Kansas City, Kansas, following a meeting of the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council.
“Today we are pleased to take another important step for the future of the franchise,” Hunt’s announcement read. “We have reached an agreement with the state of Kansas to host Chiefs football beginning with the 2031 NFL season.
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A general view of an empty GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium before the start of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
“In the coming years, we look forward to designing and building a state-of-the-art domed stadium and mixed-use district in Wyandotte County, and a best-in-class training facility, team headquarters and mixed-use district in Olathe, for a total development of at least $4 billion in the state of Kansas.”
Kelly added, “This deal to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level. With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people, and most importantly, continuing to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family. This is a game-changer for Kansas, and it’s a very bright signal for our state and the world.”
The Chiefs will remain at Arrowhead Stadium with the lease through the 2030 season. But there will certainly be some bittersweet feelings given how long the Chiefs have played in their current home.
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Since 1972, the Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium, which the late Lamar Hunt helped build in Missouri. However, it is the oldest stadium in the NFL today.
But the big question for football fans remains: Why are the Chiefs moving?
It’s been an ongoing debate for some time, but ultimately it comes down to who will help the Chiefs more in building their home of the future. Kansas is outbidding Missouri, and the former state’s STAR (Sales Tax and Revenue) bonds will cover up to 70% of the cost of the new stadium.
Missouri approved a plan last summer that would pay up to half the cost of the new stadiums for not only the Chiefs, but also MLB’s Kansas City Royals.
A general view prior to the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
The Chiefs and Royals share the same space at the Truman Sports Complex, but the baseball organization is looking to build its own new home and leave Kauffman Stadium in the past. The Royals were not involved in Monday’s announcement.
Voters in Jackson County, the jurisdiction that owns the Truman Sports Complex, blocked an extension of a 3/8-cent sales tax that would have funded improvements to Arrowhead Stadium while helping fund a new Royals stadium. As such, both franchises were forced to look at other options, and the Chiefs made a big move here.
“The benefit to the entire region will be monumental,” Hunt’s announcement continued. “A stadium of this caliber will put Kansas City in the running for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other world-class events. A brand new practice facility and headquarters will allow the Chiefs to continue to attract top talent. And the vision for a new mixed-use district will rival any sports-anchored development anywhere in the country.”
Furthering Hunt’s statement above, a domed stadium makes the new Chiefs home not just a possible Super Bowl destination, but will also host many other sporting and cultural events in the future.
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Hunt acknowledged how hard it would be to say goodbye to the city and place where his father worked so hard to bring them to Missouri and so many others who have supported the Chiefs for decades.
“It will be hard to say goodbye to Arrowhead Stadium in a few years. Like so many of you, Arrowhead reminds me of family memories and unforgettable moments. But the truth is, what makes Chiefs game days special is you. Seats don’t make noise, concrete doesn’t scare opponents, parking lots don’t cook barbecue. You do.”
