TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas City Chiefs will depart Missouri after nearly 60 years at Arrowhead Stadium, following the official announcement Monday of a partnership with the State of Kansas to construct a state-of-the-art domed facility. The relocation, scheduled for completion by the start of the 2031 NFL season, represents one of the most significant shifts in the league’s geographical landscape in decades.
The project, estimated at a minimum of $4 billion in total development, includes a $3 billion enclosed stadium to be situated in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The site is expected to be located near the Kansas Speedway and the existing “Legends” retail and entertainment district. In addition to the stadium, the Chiefs confirmed plans to build a new team headquarters and training facility in Olathe, Kansas.
“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. “We are excited to partner with the State of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality.”
The agreement was finalized after the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council voted unanimously to authorize the use of Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds. Under the approved public-private partnership, the state will issue approximately $2.4 billion in bonds—covering roughly 60% of the project costs—to be repaid through sales and liquor tax revenues generated within the new development zones. State officials emphasized that the deal requires no funds from the current state budget and imposes no new taxes on Kansas residents.
The decision to move across the state line follows a protracted stadium funding battle in Missouri. In 2024, voters in Jackson County, Missouri, soundly rejected a 3/8-cent sales tax extension intended to fund renovations for Arrowhead Stadium and a new downtown ballpark for the Kansas City Royals. While Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and local officials made eleventh-hour attempts to secure a $1.5 billion incentive package to retain the team, the Kansas proposal ultimately offered a higher level of public assistance and the opportunity for a year-round, enclosed venue.
The new stadium is expected to seat approximately 65,000 spectators—roughly 10,000 fewer than the current capacity of Arrowhead Stadium—aligning with a broader NFL trend toward high-amenity, premium-seating environments over raw capacity. The domed design will also allow Kansas to bid for major international events, including the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly characterized the announcement as a “total game-changer” for the state, projecting the creation of 20,000 construction jobs and an economic impact of $4.4 billion during the initial build phase.
The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972. While the move will take the team approximately 20 miles west of its current home, the departure signifies a major loss for the state of Missouri, which has now lost three NFL franchises—the Cardinals, the Rams, and the Chiefs—since 1988.
