Connect with us

Entertainment

NFL Team Announces Surprise Move From Red State

Published

21 hours ago

on

The Kansas City Chiefs dropped a bombshell Monday, announcing plans to leave Missouri and Arrowhead Stadium for a new domed home across the state line in Kansas.

Chiefs owner and chairman Clark Hunt confirmed the move in a joint statement with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after a meeting of the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council. The team will relocate to Kansas City, Kansas, beginning with the 2031 NFL season.

“Today we are excited to take another momentous step for the future of the franchise,” Hunt said. “We have entered into an agreement with the State of Kansas to host Chiefs football beginning with the 2031 NFL season.

“In the years ahead, 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, totaling a minimum of $4 billion of development in the State of Kansas.”

Kelly hailed the deal as a major win for the state.

“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level,” she said. “With this new stadium, we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people, and most importantly, we’re continuing to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family. This is a game-changer for Kansas, and it’s a signal to America and the world that our state’s future is very bright.”

The Chiefs will remain at Arrowhead Stadium through the 2030 season under their current lease, but the announcement marks the beginning of the end for one of the NFL’s most iconic venues.

Since 1972, the Chiefs have played at Arrowhead, a stadium built with the vision of Hunt’s late father, Lamar Hunt. Arrowhead is now the third-oldest stadium in the league, trailing only Soldier Field in Chicago and Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

So why the move?

At the center of the decision is money. Kansas outbid Missouri, with the state’s STAR bonds expected to cover up to 70% of the cost of the new stadium. Missouri lawmakers approved a plan earlier this year to fund up to half the cost of new stadiums for both the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, but that effort stalled at the local level.

Voters in Jackson County, which owns the Truman Sports Complex, rejected an extension of a three-eighths-cent sales tax that would have paid for Arrowhead upgrades and helped finance a new Royals stadium. With that vote failing, both franchises were forced to explore alternatives.

The Royals, who share the Truman Sports Complex with the Chiefs, were not part of Monday’s announcement and continue to pursue their own stadium plans.

Hunt said the payoff for the region will be massive.

“The benefit to the entire region will be monumental,” he said. “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 training facility and headquarters will allow the Chiefs to continue to attract top talent. And the vision for a new mixed-use district will rival that of any sports-anchored development anywhere in the country.”

A domed stadium would open the door for Kansas City to host marquee events well beyond football, from major college tournaments to large-scale concerts and conventions.

Still, Hunt acknowledged the emotional weight of leaving Arrowhead, a stadium synonymous with Chiefs football and some of the loudest crowds in sports.

“It will be difficult to bid farewell to Arrowhead Stadium in a few years,” he said. “Like so many of you, Arrowhead reminds me of family memories and unforgettable moments. But the truth is, what makes Chiefs game days so special is you. Seats don’t make noise, concrete doesn’t intimidate opponents, parking lots don’t cook barbecue. You do.”

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>

Related Topics: