The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs are relocating from Missouri to Kansas after landing a $4 billion development deal anchored by a new domed stadium and training complex for the team.
The agreement marks one of the largest sports-anchored real estate developments in recent U.S. history. Construction could begin as early as next year on the $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County and a separate headquarters campus in Olathe, Kansas, in Johnson County. Exact locations have not been identified.
The Hunt family, owner of the Chiefs, plans to fund at least $1.2 billion of stadium costs and commit an additional $1 billion toward mixed-use development at both sites. The Hunts control a vast real estate empire that includes Hunt Cos., Hunt Midwest and Hunt Realty Investments.
The state approved up to $1.8 billion in Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR, bond financing to cover its 60% share of stadium development costs.
STAR bonds are a financing tool that enables Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to fund the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.
"We have a lot of work to do," Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said Tuesday at a news conference announcing the deal. "We're still early in the process. In the months ahead, we will hire an architect and a contractor and get to work on the five plus year timeline to build a new stadium."
This project represents $4 billion in development across two major sites. Both locations are designed to feature sports, entertainment, dining, retail, office, hotel and residential components.
The Chiefs' lease at their current home, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, expires after the 2030 NFL season. The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead since 1972.
The project is the latest example of how professional sports franchises increasingly favor anchoring large-scale mixed-use districts rather than standalone stadiums.
The NFL's Washington Commanders, for example, secured approval from the D.C. Council in September for a new $3.7 billion mixed-use district at its longtime former home, RFK Stadium, that will be anchored by a new stadium for the team.
Another big stadium move could also cross state lines. The NFL's Chicago Bears, after an earlier focus on a new lakefront stadium in the city or a sprawling, mixed-use stadium complex in the northwest suburbs, announced this week the team is expanding its search to a wider area, including northwest Indiana, after failing to secure taxpayer support for the project in Illinois.
The Chiefs' two-site strategy spreads economic impact across multiple counties while positioning Kansas to compete for Super Bowls, Final Fours and other major events that drive hotel and hospitality demand, the team said.
The Wyandotte County stadium district is planned to be open for the 2031 NFL season. State economists project 20,000 construction jobs and $4.4 billion in economic impact during the build phase alone.
Wyandotte County is already home to major Kansas City area sports venues, including the NASCAR Kansas Speedway and home fields for Kansas City's professional men's and women's soccer teams.
The Chiefs will pay $7 million annual rent under a 30-year lease with six 5-year renewal options. Rent escalates annually by the greater of 2% or the Consumer Price Index increase.
The Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council approved the agreement with bipartisan support. The deal includes cost-overrun protections that make the Chiefs responsible for expenses exceeding the $3 billion stadium budget.