A rendering is shown of the Kansas City Chiefs’ new stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2031 in Kansas City, Kan. Photo by the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs released concept renderings of their new stadium Wednesday, showcasing the $3 billion facility, which features a translucent roof.
The 70,000-seat stadium is scheduled to open in 2031 in Kansas City, Kan. The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium’s GEHA Field in Kansas City, Mo., since 1972.
“Today, we are excited to show Chiefs Kingdom a first look at our new home,” team owner Clark Hunt said in a news release. “From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that improved the game-day experience for every single fan. This new stadium will do just that.
“It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise, while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom. While we’re still finalizing many of the details, there are a few things we know for sure: it will hold 70,000 fans, it will still be the best place in the world to tailgate, and the whole building will be built for noise.”
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Chiefs officials announced in December the franchise would leave Missouri for a stadium in Kansas, about 15 miles from Arrowhead Stadium. The move came after Kansas state lawmakers presented a funding package for more than $2.4 billion in bonds.
The Chiefs’ lease at Arrowhead Stadium will expire after the 2030 season. Renderings of the new facility include a glimpse of parking options. More than 20,000 parking spots are expected to be included in the project. Parking lots will be designed to enhance tailgating experiences.
The Chiefs selected Kansas City-based MANICA as the lead design architect.
“We’re proud to name MANICA as our lead design architect and HNTB as the architect of record for this transformational stadium undertaking which will come to life over the next five years,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said.
“We are incredibly fortunate that Kansas City is home to world-class sports and entertainment design talent, and that has been on full display throughout this process.
“David [Manica] and the MANICA team stood out throughout a rigorous monthslong process, honoring and embracing our history while presenting a bold and dynamic vision for the future. We look forward to working alongside both firms to refine these plans and deliver the premier sports and entertainment venue not only in the Midwest, but in the world.”
The selection of MANICA followed a six-month design competition process.
The Chiefs said the stadium’s size, shape and “roof geometry” were studied by audio engineers to maximize crowd noise. The stadium’s seating bowl will include a drum deck for pre-game and in-game ceremonies. The roof features more than 400,000 square feet of translucent panels.
Outside the stadium, designers plan for a modern plaza, with a Chiefs Hall of Honor twice the size of the current space. The Chiefs also plan to build a team store four times larger than the current store.
The Chiefs said the stadium project, as well as practice facility and mixed-use development, will deliver 36,500 full-time equivalent jobs and $8.2 billion in economic impact in Kansas City during construction. Those developments will support an estimated 8,500 full-time equivalent jobs and $1.5 billion in economic impact once they open.
Kansas City rookies will report to training camp Friday in St. Joseph, Mo. Veterans will report Tuesday to Missouri Western State University.
The Chiefs will open their preseason slate against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 15 in Kansas City, Mo. They will host the Denver Broncos in their regular-season opener at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
MLB’s Kansas City Royals, who play at Kaufman Stadium adjacent to the Chiefs’ current facility, announced in April that they will team up with Hallmark Cards to build a new downtown stadium. Their ballpark lease expires in 2031.
