Kansas City Chiefs Announce Relocation to New Domed Stadium Across Kansas-Missouri Border
The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to relocate from their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium to a new domed stadium situated across the Kansas-Missouri border. The new venue is expected to be operational by the 2031 NFL season. This move represents a significant cross-state shift after the Chiefs had been based at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972.
The Kansas legislature approved bonding to cover up to 50% of the stadium costs, along with up to $50 million in tax credits per stadium and additional unspecified local government aid to attract the team. The most likely site for the new stadium is in Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway and The Legends retail and entertainment district. This area also includes facilities for Sporting Kansas City.
Previously, the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals had planned an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium. Moreover, a Royals affiliate has purchased a mortgage on land in Overland Park, Kansas, as part of cross-border plans. The current Arrowhead Stadium leases in Jackson County expire in January 2031.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and state lawmakers backed a competing funding package aimed at retaining the team on the Missouri side. In the past, the Rams departed St. Louis due to similar funding issues, prompting a June special legislative session to support bonds for stadium financing and tax credits. Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly planned to speak on the matter, with Mayor Lucas having sought to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.
The proposed domed stadium would facilitate year-round use of the facility, enabling it to host concerts, college football bowl games, the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, and potentially the Super Bowl. The Hunt family, longtime owners of the Chiefs, had previously favored renovating the existing Arrowhead Stadium.
Earlier this summer, Arrowhead Stadium hosted six World Cup matches, marking an eventful year before this major relocation decision.
