KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The future of where the Kansas City Chiefs will be playing next decade has been a topic of conversation in the KC metro for a while now.
After a vote to renovate the stadium and move the Royals to downtown failed in April, the door was opened for a plethora of option regarding what the Chiefs will do next.
The lease for Arrowhead Stadium expires in January of 2031, but the Chiefs are looking to make a decision sooner than later.
For the near future, Arrowhead will undergo renovations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after this season, bet beyond that, there are a lot of unknowns.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt spoke on the future of the stadium after training camp on Monday.
"We do have six-and-a-half years left on our lease at Arrowhead and GEHA Field at Arrowhead is a special place," Hunt said.
"But we do have to look to the future. We do need a solution starting in 2031. We're glad to have some options. We really appreciate what the Kansas legislature did in passing the upgrade to the STAR Bond bill that potentially would give us an opportunity to look at a stadium over there. We're going to work very hard over the coming months and years to come up with a solution that makes sense for the organization, for the team, but also one that makes sense for the community."
Hunt seems to be exploring a number of possibilities from upgrades to Arrowhead or moving to Kansas.
"Part of our evaluation over the next several months and coming years will be looking at whether we're better off in a renovated building or in a new stadium. And that new stadium could be on the Missouri side as well. It doesn't have to be on the Kansas side.
I had a bunch of season ticket holders come up to me today to share how special Arrowhead is with them and we know that, but we have to look to the future. Potentially having a new building, whether it's on the Missouri or Kansas side may make the most sense."
While the organization ponders their next move for the franchise, Hunt stated there is no desired outcome they have in mind, but the intention is to stay within the metro area.
"We have a special connection with the community and with the Chiefs Kingdom and our focus is very much on finding a solution here in the metropolitan area."
Hunt also spoke on the team getting a dome if they decide to stay in Missouri and the opportunities that a covered stadium could bring.
"I mentioned the possibility of a new stadium also on the Missouri side, and I think if we went that route, certainly we would have to look at a dome. Dome gives you an ability to host a lot of other events which could be important for the community."
