A landmark announcement came Dec. 22 in Topeka, Kansas, as the Kansas City Chiefs formally declared their intention to relocate both their home stadium and team headquarters to Kansas by the start of the 2031 NFL season.

The Chiefs confirmed plans to construct a new enclosed stadium in Wyandotte County, alongside a mixed-use entertainment district, while also developing a new team headquarters and training facility in Olathe, located in Johnson County. Both sites will include surrounding developments that could feature dining, retail, office space, hotels and residential housing.

The franchise will continue playing at Arrowhead Stadium through the conclusion of its lease at the Truman Sports Complex in 2030, bringing to an end a more than 50-year run at one of the NFL’s most iconic venues.

The announcement followed years of negotiations on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line, culminating in an agreement between the Chiefs and the State of Kansas, approved by the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council with bipartisan support.

“The big difference is we were working with one party here, the State of Kansas, and in Missouri, we were working with the governor’s office, the county, and also the city,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “We just didn’t get there for the timeline.”

The stadium itself carries an estimated cost of $3 billion and is slated to open in time for the 2031 season. The region will reap the benefits of an estimated 20,000 jobs and produce $4.4 billion in economic impact during the construction.

The agreement is structured as a public-private partnership, with approximately 60% of the funding coming from public sources and 40 percent from private investment. State officials emphasized that the deal will not require new taxes or draw from the current Kansas state budget.

Public financing will be supported through Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds, as well as the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund. The STAR bonds allow the state, Wyandotte County and the City of Olathe to allocate new sales tax revenues generated by the project toward its costs. The sports fund, meanwhile, is supported by revenue from sports betting and the Kansas Lottery.

In addition, the Hunt family has committed up to $1 billion in further development tied to the project, portions of which may also be eligible for STAR bond incentives.

“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Hunt said in a statement. “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, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt.”

Hunt acknowledged the desire to create a stadium that maintains a loud environment and to keep the tailgate traditions alive in Kansas. The stadium is expected to lose approximately 10,000 seats compared to the current Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly hailed the agreement as transformative for the state’s long-term growth and national profile.

“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level,” Kelly said. “With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world and attracting young people. This is a game-changer for Kansas.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also praised the project, noting its significance beyond football.

“The Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium will be a stage for unforgettable moments, whether it’s playoff games, concerts or championship events,” Goodell said. “This public-private partnership will build upon the Hunts’ generational legacy by boldly investing in one of America’s greatest fan bases.”

The move will mark the fourth home stadium in franchise history. The Chiefs began play at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in 1960, relocated to Municipal Stadium in Kansas City in 1963, and eventually settled into Arrowhead Stadium in 1972. Since then, Arrowhead has become synonymous with the franchise’s identity and one of the most recognizable venues in professional sports.

While final site layouts, architectural firms and design renderings have not yet been announced, team officials indicated those decisions are expected over the next several months. Construction is expected to begin within the next two years, pending final approvals and planning milestones.

The stadium gives the Chiefs hope of bringing more major sporting events to the new stadium, including Super Bowls, NCAA Basketball Final Fours, and other marquee events typically held in large, climate-controlled venues.

Additional details, such as precise stadium location and development plans, are expected to be revealed as the project moves forward. For now, the announcement represents a historic shift for the Chiefs and the Kansas City region, reshaping the franchise’s future while signaling a new era across the state line.

“Today, Kansas won the Super Bowl,” said Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson. “This is
a huge win for Kansas. Now, we get to watch our beloved Chiefs play right here at home,
keeping jobs and tax dollars right here in Kansas. Best of all, this will not cost one more
penny for Kansas taxpayers.”