TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly today announced that an agreement has been reached to build a stadium and a mixed-use entertainment district, as well as a new team headquarters, training facility, and mixed-use development in Kansas.
Based on State estimations, the project is slated to deliver more than 20,000 jobs and more than $4.4 billion in economic impact for Kansas during the construction phase alone. It includes two distinct parts: (1) a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County which will open at the start of the 2031 NFL season; and (2) a new Chiefs headquarters and training facility in the City of Olathe in Johnson County. Both sites will have mixed-use developments that could include sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel, and residential properties.
"Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "We are excited to partner with the State of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt. The stadium, practice facility, and surrounding development will benefit the entire region, and further elevate Kansas City in the eyes of the country and the world."
The agreement was approved today by the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council with bipartisan support. It will be a public-private partnership between the Chiefs and the state – and it will require no funds from the current state budget and no new taxes on Kansans.
"This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level. 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," Governor Kelly said. "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 project will be financed through a public-private partnership (60% public - 40% private). The public portion is funded through Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund – both funding mechanisms established specifically for this purpose – to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget. The STAR bonds were authorized today by a bipartisan vote of the Legislative Coordinating Council.
The STAR bonds have two components: (1) It allows the state to designate a portion of new state sales tax revenues generated by this project in neighboring communities to fund this project; (2) It allows Wyandotte County and the City of Olathe to designate a portion of their local sales tax revenue generated by this project to pay for it. For more on STAR bonds, click here.
The Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund was established by the legislature to dedicate revenue generated from iLottery and sports betting to recruit professional sports teams.
The Hunt Family is also committing to $1 billion in additional development, a portion of which can also be incentivized by STAR bonds.
"This is a great day for Kansas City Chiefs fans," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "This public-private partnership, the result of a thoughtful and deliberate process, will build upon the Hunts' generational legacy by boldly investing in one of America's greatest fan bases. The Chiefs' new enclosed stadium will be a stage for unforgettable moments, whether it's playoff games, concerts or championship events. We congratulate the Chiefs and the Kansas City community on this important achievement."
Details of the agreement can be found at www.kansascommerce.gov/chiefs-media-kit. For more information, please visit www.chiefs.com/newstadium.
Future announcements, including final facility locations, design firms, renderings, and eventual groundbreaking events will be made in the coming months and years.
