Chiefs show concourse, tailgating updates in reimagined Arrowhead Stadium
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have many new amenities they aim to build in a reimagined Arrowhead Stadium.
The team held a press conference Wednesday morning to present their initial renovation concepts for the stadium.
‘ChiefsAholic’ pleads guilty to bank robbery, money laundering
The renovation plans come as Jackson County residents prepare to vote in April on a 3/8th-cent sales tax for Chiefs and Royals stadium projects.
Revenue from the sales tax, if approved, would go toward Arrowhead renovations and a new Royals stadium in the Crossroads District. The Chiefs would expand throughout the Truman Sports Complex if Kauffman Stadium is demolished.
The Hunt family will put up $300 million of the $800 million price tag.
“Like we did in 2006, we would cover any cost overruns on the project,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said during Wednesday’s news conference.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan expects the renovations to begin after the 2026 World Cup and be done by 2030, possibly 2031.
Outside of Arrowhead
The $800 million renovation project includes a turf-covered Activation Zone with tailgate areas and covered entertainment space built over where Kauffman Stadium currently sits.
Chiefs to release wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling: report
“It’s designed for game day and event day tailgates, activations, outdoor stage shows both on game day and not on game day,” Donovan said.
The activation zone has an entertainment space, but the renovations released Wednesday do not include an entertainment district.
Donovan said the team looked at an entertainment district. They did a real estate analysis development before Wednesday’s news conference, but a reality hit them pretty quickly.
“Right now, in this market, this is not a location that is worthy of developing,” he said.
“As harsh as that sounds, it’s just the reality from a business standpoint. Secondly, when you look at making a decision like that, you have to look at your competition, and the reality is we’re going to have some unbelievable competition downtown when the Royals do what they’re going to do, so why would we do something that competes with that and tries to compete with that?”
Tailgating emphasized, entertainment district nixed in Arrowhead plans
The Upper Concourse will receive a 360-degree connection bridge to wrap around the stadium as well as a canopy that will have infrared heaters and overhead fans for year-round comfort.
The team will construct three new pedestrian bridges to eliminate interruptions to traffic flow around the stadium.
View from Central Activation Zone Concert Pedestrian Bridge Endzone Suite Serial View from southwest
They will also implement a dedicated rideshare zone, along with a new parking deck on the south side of the stadium, expanded parking on the north side of the stadium at the current site of Kauffman Stadium.
End Zone Extra: Get the top Chiefs news and insider features all season long
That will increase the total number of paved parking spots, while reoriented parking lots improve pedestrian flow and the tailgating experience.
The team will expand, pave and permanently light the Lot O RV Parking Lot with permanent restroom facilities added as well.
Inside of Arrowhead
VIP stadium entry points will lead to new spaces inside the stadium and will also decrease fan traffic and congestion at existing general admission gates.
Crews will excavate the lower-level seating bowl to create new sideline clubs and introduce new End Zone Clubs and Suites for new viewing and hospitality experiences that are now common in newer NFL venues. There will also be full suite and club lounge renovations and updates.
Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android
Donovan said they got the idea for the end zone suites from the Las Vegas Raiders.
“One of the things that has me most excited about this entire project is that you sit on that field level of Allegiant Stadium, and you look at that amazing end zone suite that they have, and you say, ‘Wow. Too bad we can’t do that,'” he said Wednesday. “We found a way to do that.”
Arrowhead Stadium will also get new video boards that will be larger while keeping their shape to complement the stadium’s unique curved end zones. The Chiefs will also install new LED ribbon boards.
The team will also upgrade TV, wi-fi, DAS (distributed antenna system) and audio system technology as well as new concession stands, retail spaces and restrooms.
A new field access tunnel will provide a new field access point for visiting teams, closer access to new visiting team areas, as well as faster event turnover for major concerts and other special events.
Traditional concession stands will be converted to modern Grab-n-Go markets throughout general concourses, resulting in an anticipated increase in speed of service by 30-40% and transaction times will decrease with new point-of-sale technology systems.
Sales tax vote
Early voting is already underway in Jackson County for the April 2 election on the 3/8th-cent sales tax toward the Chiefs and Royals stadium projects.
Donovan said it’s very important Jackson County voters say yes to the stadium question.
They’re being asked to decide whether sales tax money should go to help pay for the renovations the Chiefs want. The other half of the county sales tax money generated would go to the Royals building a new ballpark downtown.
Chiefs’ Clark Hunt named worst NFL owner on NFLPA report cards
On Wednesday, the Chiefs said demolishing Kauffman will not be a cost Jackson County has to take on as the Royals plan on moving downtown.
“The 3/8th-cent sales tax is designed to do exactly what it’s done for the last 10 or so, 20 years, or I should say from 2006,” Donovan said. “It is going to pay for repair and maintenance of the building, so to give you some perspective, last year, this organization put $23 million into this building.”
Jackson County Executive Frank White isn’t sold on the Royals and Chiefs stadium issue being on the April ballot. He was at Wednesday’s news conference though.
“Based on what I’ve heard so far, it’s probably going to be a no vote right now,” White said Wednesday when asked how he plans to vote.
In January, White vetoed the plan to put the sales tax question on the April ballot, but the Jackson County Legislature overrode him.
“No, I’m not concerned that they’re going to leave because they still have several years they have to play here,” White said Wednesday when asked if he was concerned the teams would leave if this vote fails.
Your Local Election Headquarters: Candidates, races and results on FOX4
The Chiefs and Royals current leases don’t end until 2031.
Donovan said it doesn’t bother him that White plans to vote no right now.
“If Jackson County decides not to support the Chiefs going forward, then the Chiefs have to look at all their options,” Donovan said. “It’s just the reality. If we don’t have a stadium to play in, we need a stadium to play in, and we need to look at all our options.”
