Arrowhead Stadium
Voters in Jackson County approved a $102 million bond issue in 1967 to build a new sports complex. This decision followed the departure of the Kansas City Athletics baseball team after the 1967 season. The loss created a void that local leaders felt required government subsidy to keep professional football and major league baseball in the city. The original design called for side-by-side stadiums with a common roof that would roll between them. That concept proved too complicated and expensive, so it was scrapped for an open-air configuration. Construction began in 1968 under the direction of Denver architect Charles Deaton and Chiefs general manager Jack Steadman. The stadium opened in time for the 1972 NFL season.
The upper sections of Arrowhead Stadium were placed at a steep incline to increase seating while limiting the stadium's footprint. This specific angle cannot be replicated in modern stadiums due to current accessibility regulations. Lamar Hunt included an owner's suite with three bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room within the design. Kivett & Myers implemented Deaton's plans as the primary architectural firm. Sharp-Kidde-Webb construction firms executed the project as a joint venture. Some consider this structure to have influenced the design of several future NFL stadiums. The stadium has been in use since the 1972 NFL season and remains the oldest facility in the AFC conference.
Jackson County voters approved a tax increase on the 4th of April 2006, to finance $850 million in renovations. A second bond issue to build the rolling roof shared with Kauffman Stadium was defeated by voters. The Chiefs announced final plans for a $375 million renovation on the 15th of August 2007. The cost to the city was reduced by $50 million thanks to an additional payment by the Hunt family. Reconstruction started on the 3rd of October 2007, and both stadiums were ready for play by the 2010 season. In February 2024, the Chiefs announced additional plans to renovate starting in 2027. Those plans were shelved in April when voters rejected a 40-year sales tax increase to fund the project.
On the 13th of October 2013, the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium set a Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium with 137.5 decibels. That record was broken days later by Seattle Seahawks fans but reclaimed by Kansas City on the 29th of September 2014. The team hit 142.2 decibels during a Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots. Since September 2014, Chiefs fans have been recognized as the loudest fan base among outdoor stadiums. The TD Pack Band served as a mainstay at every home game from 1963 until 2008. Trumpeter Tony DiPardo founded the band and wrote songs like "The Chiefs are on the Warpath" before his death in 2011.
Arrowhead Stadium hosted five Big 12 Conference football championship games between 2000 and 2008. The Border War between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers drew 80,537 spectators in 2007. In 2009 and 2010, the venue held the annual Farmageddon game between Iowa State and Kansas State. Major League Soccer began using the facility in 1996 when the Kansas City Wiz played there. A friendly match against Manchester United on the 25th of July 2010, attracted 52,424 fans. The stadium will host six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup including four group stage games and one quarterfinal match.
The stadium officially became GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in March 2021 following a naming rights deal with GEHA. The agreement runs from the start of the 2021 season until January 2031. On the 22nd of December 2025, the team announced their intention to leave for a new stadium in Wyandotte County. This new facility is scheduled to open in time for the 2031 NFL season. Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated renovation costs for the 2026 World Cup at $50 million. Seating capacity is expected to be reduced in the corners of the end zones to comply with FIFA field regulations.
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Common questions
When did Arrowhead Stadium open for the 1972 NFL season?
Arrowhead Stadium opened in time for the 1972 NFL season after construction began in 1968. The project was directed by Denver architect Charles Deaton and Chiefs general manager Jack Steadman.
Who designed the unique upper sections of Arrowhead Stadium?
Denver architect Charles Deaton designed the stadium with steeply inclined upper sections to increase seating while limiting the footprint. Kivett & Myers implemented these plans as the primary architectural firm.
What happened to the rolling roof plan for Arrowhead Stadium on the 4th of April 2006?
Voters defeated a second bond issue to build the rolling roof shared with Kauffman Stadium on the 4th of April 2006. Jackson County voters instead approved a tax increase to finance $850 million in renovations that year.
How loud did the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium get during the Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots on the 29th of September 2014?
The crowd reached 142.2 decibels during the Monday Night Football game against the New England Patriots on the 29th of September 2014. This performance allowed Kansas City fans to reclaim the Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor stadium.
When will Arrowhead Stadium officially close and move to Wyandotte County?
Arrowhead Stadium is scheduled to be replaced by a new facility in Wyandotte County that opens in time for the 2031 NFL season. The team announced their intention to leave on the 22nd of December 2025 following the expiration of the GEHA naming rights deal in January 2031.