The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed a move to a new domed stadium near Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, a decision that ends Missouri’s presence in the National Football League. The relocation will place the new facility about 30 miles from the current Arrowhead Stadium, a distance that feels far for longtime fans.
The Move
Chiefs officials announced the relocation after Kansas lawmakers approved a bond package earlier in the day to help finance the new stadium. The facility will sit adjacent to the retail district known as The Legends and will be constructed on the Kansas side of the state line. The move marks the second NFL franchise to leave Missouri in the past decade.
Missouri’s Efforts
Missouri lawmakers had been trying to keep the Chiefs with a special legislative session in June, backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The session authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments. Despite these offers, the Chiefs chose the Kansas package.
Mayor Quinton Lucas Speaks
“Years ago as a kid, my family was homeless for a while and we lived in a motel not too far from the stadium,” said Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, shortly after the team’s announcement. “I knew we struggled, but I believed nothing was cooler than living within a stones’ throw of what I thought then and today is the greatest stadium in football.
“Like a lot of parents in Chiefs Kingdom, my single mother scraped some money together to get me to Arrowhead for my first game – 300-level upper deck for a 30-7 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills in 1993. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Lucas Counterproposal
Lucas had been working with local lawmakers on a counterproposal to keep the Chiefs in Missouri. “We understand our very fair but very responsible financial offer of taxpayer support was surpassed by an even more robust public financing package in Kansas,” he said. “The Chiefs have a business to run and today made a business decision. We wish them well.”
Kansas Senate Reaction
“I feel like Kansas won the Super Bowl,” said Ty Masterson, the president of the Kansas Senate, reflecting the state’s enthusiasm for the new stadium.
Former NFL Teams in Missouri
The Cardinals, who moved from Chicago in 1960, left Missouri for the Phoenix area in 1988 and now play in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams arrived from Anaheim, California, in 1995, then headed to Los Angeles after failing to secure funding to replace The Dome at America’s Center. The Rams recently built SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, at a cost of more than $5 billion.
Other Sports Franchises That Left Missouri
The Athletics of Major League Baseball left Kansas City for Oakland after the 1967 season. The Kings of the National Basketball Association moved to Sacramento in 1985, and the Kansas City Scouts of the National Hockey League eventually became the Colorado Rockies.
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City, an MLS club that once called Arrowhead Stadium home, now plays at Children’s Mercy Park on the Kansas side of the state line, close to the proposed Chiefs stadium.
Truman Sports Complex
The Chiefs and Kansas City Royals have shared the Truman Sports Complex for more than five decades. Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium sit a couple hundred yards apart, each revered for its unique atmosphere.
Chiefs Performance
The Chiefs, at 6-9, have been eliminated from playoff contention this season. They have appeared in the past three Super Bowls and the previous seven conference title games, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading them to three Super Bowl titles in five trips.
Royals Performance
The Royals, who won their second World Series in 2015, returned to the playoffs following the 2024 season. They are led by Bobby Witt Jr. and are coming off a second consecutive winning season.
Royals’ Future
The Royals insist they will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2031 season and prefer to build a new downtown ballpark. A sales tax extension that would have paid for an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium and a new home for the Royals was defeated last year by voters in Jackson County, Missouri.
Royals’ Land Purchase
Through an affiliate, the Royals have purchased the mortgage for a tract of land in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, as part of their search for a new home.
Fan Reactions
“I don’t think it is the greatest idea,” said Dustin Allen, who lives in Blue Springs, Missouri, and was visiting Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday. “I think that where they have it is a very nice spot. I will say that the traffic over there is always fun. I think it’s nice to have them downtown in some way, shape or form.”
Season Ticket Holder’s Concerns
Mike Robinson, a season ticket-holder from Kansas City, Kansas, was visiting a science museum inside the train station with his son. “I’m pretty sure prices will go up,” he said. “That’s what I’m concerned about. A brand new stadium. Season ticket holders may not be able to keep up with their tickets with the rising prices.”
A Neutral Fan’s View
Analaysia Miller, a Chiefs fan from Kansas City, Kansas, didn’t have a strong opinion about the move since the team isn’t leaving entirely. “It is just whatever they want to do,” she said as she visited Union Station with her three children. “As long as they are still in our city, representing for our city. That’s all that matters to me.”
Key Takeaways
- The Chiefs will relocate to a domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Missouri’s NFL presence.
- Missouri lawmakers offered a substantial public financing package that was ultimately surpassed by Kansas’s bond deal.
- The Kansas City Royals are exploring new stadium options after rejecting an Arrowhead renovation plan.
The Chiefs’ move marks a significant shift in the regional sports landscape, prompting questions about the future of Missouri’s professional teams and the economic impact on the city’s iconic sports venues.
