“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level,” Kelly said, calling the deal “a game-changer for Kansas.” Hunt said the team was “excited to partner with the State of Kansas,” adding that the stadium, training facility and surrounding development would “benefit the entire region.”

Project documents reviewed by ENR place the stadium near the interchange of Interstates 70 and 435, within a newly designated STAR bond district that also encompasses the Olathe training complex, subject to final boundary approvals by state and local officials. Wyandotte County and the City of Olathe must still adopt ordinances pledging incremental local sales tax revenues generated within the district to support bond repayment.

Financing, Delivery and Risk Allocation

Under the framework, the stadium would be delivered through a public-private partnership with approximately 60% public funding and 40% private funding. The public share would be financed primarily through Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds and the state’s Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund, which is capitalized through lottery and sports betting revenue.

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The preliminary STAR bond agreement specifies the stadium will be a fully enclosed facility with a minimum capacity of 65,000 seats, to be built in a “first-class manner” comparable to recent enclosed NFL venues. The agreement also contemplates pursuing applicable sales tax exemptions on construction materials, subject to required approvals.

Stadium scope explicitly includes parking, utility infrastructure and related on-site improvements, but documents have not assigned responsibility or cost allocation for off-site roadway upgrades, interchange modifications or broader transportation improvements beyond what is ultimately incorporated into the definitive project program. Coordination with state and local transportation agencies is anticipated but not yet defined.

The agreement establishes a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) delivery structure, with the Chiefs responsible for managing design and construction procurement and for covering any cost overruns beyond the public funding cap. The state’s public contribution is capped at 60% of the stadium budget, or $1.8 billion, and the team must demonstrate sufficient private financing capacity before any bond issuance. During construction, public and private funds would be disbursed on a pari passu basis, meaning the public share cannot exceed 60% of costs.

While the Chiefs would oversee construction, the stadium must be conveyed to a governmental or quasi-governmental entity before bond issuance, with the team entering into a long-term lease and management agreement. The initial lease term is 30 years, with multiple five-year extension options. Annual rent payments would begin at $7 million, escalating annually, with portions directed to reserves for capital repairs, maintenance and operations.

The agreement sets a reserve funding threshold of $17 million annually, increasing by “the greater of 2% or CPI,” and requires the public owner to retain an independent engineering or facility-condition firm to regularly assess structural, mechanical, electrical and architectural systems. Public funding is capped at the agreed level, with the Chiefs responsible for costs above that threshold.

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Economic Impact

An independent economic impact study prepared for the Kansas Dept. of Commerce estimates the combined stadium, headquarters, training facility and mixed-use development would generate about $4.4 billion in construction-phase economic output, supporting nearly 21,000 jobs and $1.6 billion in labor income across Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Once fully built out, the facilities are projected to generate approximately $1.1 billion in annual economic output and support about 4,000 ongoing jobs, with mixed-use development completed by 2038.

Missouri officials expressed disappointment. Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a statement reported by Kansas City media that Missouri had “put forward a competitive and attractive proposal” to keep the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium but that the team’s decision to relocate was “deeply disappointing.” Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas also acknowledged the move’s impact, calling it a setback, according to local media reports.

The Chiefs plan to continue playing home games at Arrowhead through the 2030 season before relocating to the new Kansas facility. The move follows the April 2024 failure of a Jackson County sales tax measure to fund major stadium renovations.

Several project-critical elements remain unresolved and are expected to be addressed in subsequent phases. These include final design leadership, procurement sequencing and contracting strategy; assignment and funding of off-site transportation and utility upgrades; labor requirements, including any prevailing wage or project labor agreement provisions; and the scope and timing of environmental review and permitting. No architects, engineers or construction firms have been named.