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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are planning an $800 million renovation to Arrowhead Stadium, the third-oldest stadium within the NFL, that will start after the group performs host to video games for the 2026 World Cup and take about 4 years to finish.
The undertaking is contingent on the extension of a tax of three-eighth of a cent by voters in Jackson County, Missouri, on April 2. That cash has been used for maintenance at Truman Sports activities Complicated of Arrowhead and neighboring Kauffman Stadium, which the Royals intend to depart for a new downtown ballpark earlier than the present lease expires after the 2030 season.
“We might not be keen to signal a lease for an additional 25 years with out the financing to correctly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” acknowledged Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose household would contribute $300 million towards the general undertaking. “So the financing puzzle is essential to us to verify now we have sufficient funds to do every little thing we have outlined.”
The scope of the renovation project, which was revealed Wednesday throughout a information convention at Arrowhead, would contact each side of the 52-year-old constructing, from the seating bowl to luxurious facilities to the tailgating scene.
There can be a brand new parking deck constructed to assist present gamers, VIPs and different particular company with a greater entry level. New pedestrian bridges would assist followers get from parking tons to the stadium. There can be new ribbon boards, the video boards at every finish would triple and quadruple in measurement and the prevailing suites across the stadium can be renovated.
The 2 largest modifications to the stadium itself would come above it and beneath it.
For the primary time for the reason that stadium was inbuilt 1972, the Chiefs are planning to construct a 360-degree higher concourse, which might enable followers to extra simply move across the stadium. It will additionally create extra meals stations, restrooms and merchandise areas, and that will alleviate congestion elsewhere within the stadium.
In the long run zones, the Chiefs are planning to excavate below the prevailing construction to create membership areas much like these discovered at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the place the Raiders play and the Chiefs not too long ago received their third Tremendous Bowl prior to now 5 years.
“You sit on the sphere degree of Allegiant Stadium and see that tremendous finish zone suite they’ve, and also you say: ‘Wow. Too dangerous we won’t do this,'” Chiefs president Mark Donovan mentioned. “We discovered a approach to do this, and never solely convey you the perfect of the latest buildings within the NFL, however put it inside the enduring Arrowhead Stadium.”
One other large change would come exterior the stadium, the place the Chiefs envision a tailgating plaza constructed on the location of Kauffman Stadium. The lined space would offer a gathering area on recreation day but additionally could possibly be used year-round for occasions.
The unique plan for the Truman Sports activities Complicated referred to as for a rolling roof that might cowl Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums, however the construction was by no means constructed. The Chiefs revisited the thought of a roof over Arrowhead roughly twenty years in the past, when it underwent its final main renovation, however the public was skeptical of the undertaking and the thought finally was scrapped.
Though a roof conceivably might assist Kansas Metropolis play host to the Tremendous Bowl, Hunt mentioned Wednesday it was by no means severely thought of for this spherical of renovations — and in reality, the group prefers to play outdoor within the parts.
“We actually really feel prefer it’s a aggressive benefit for us,” he mentioned.
