Clark Hunt makes stadium announcement in letter to Chiefs Kingdom

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs made a historic announcement Monday, sharing plans to move the franchise’s stadium and headquarters across state lines.

Sixty-three years after the Chiefs moved from Dallas to Kansas City under founder Lamar Hunt -- and 52 years after moving into Arrowhead Stadium -- his son, Clark Hunt, shared the news of their next move in a letter to Chiefs Kingdom.

Dear Chiefs Kingdom,

Since the day Lamar Hunt founded this franchise, our family has been focused on building for the future. The team won its first championship while playing at the Cotton Bowl, then moved here to Kansas City and won its first Super Bowl while playing home games at historic Municipal Stadium. Soon after, my dad was instrumental in building iconic Arrowhead Stadium, a football gem that was ahead of its time.

At his core, Lamar Hunt was a pioneer. A visionary. From starting the American Football League to its merger with the NFL, from revolutionizing the game to naming the Super Bowl, Dad consistently looked to the future and propelled the game forward for nearly half a century. Every step of the way, he prioritized the fans. And every step of the way, he thought about the next generation.

Today we are excited to take another momentous step for the future of the franchise. We have entered into an agreement with the State of Kansas to host Chiefs football beginning with the 2031 NFL season. In the years ahead, we look forward to designing and building a state-of-the-art domed stadium and mixed-use district in Wyandotte County, and a best-in-class training facility, team headquarters, and mixed-use district in Olathe, totaling a minimum of $4 billion of development in the State of Kansas.

“We have entered into an agreement with the State of Kansas to host Chiefs football beginning with the 2031 NFL season.”

The benefit to the entire region will be monumental. A stadium of this caliber will put Kansas City in the running for Super Bowls, Final Fours, and other world-class events. A brand new training facility and headquarters will allow the Chiefs to continue to attract top talent. And the vision for a new mixed-use district will rival that of any sports-anchored development anywhere in the country.

Of course, it will be difficult to bid farewell to Arrowhead Stadium in a few years. Like so many of you, Arrowhead reminds me of family memories and unforgettable moments. But the truth is, what makes Chiefs gamedays so special is you. Seats don’t make noise, concrete doesn’t intimidate opponents, parking lots don’t cook barbecue. You do.

“What makes Chiefs gamedays so special is you. Seats don’t make noise, concrete doesn’t intimidate opponents, parking lots don’t cook barbecue. You do.”

From the day the Chiefs came to Kansas City, you have energized this team, and this team has elevated the profile of the city and the region. It’s the reason kids from coast to coast wear red and gold t-shirts, and sports fans around the world will watch soccer games from our backyard this summer. This next step will further elevate the entire region in the eyes of the country and the world.

I want to thank the State of Kansas, and its legislative leaders. We have a lot more work to do to make this vision a reality, and I am excited to pursue this project together.

I also want to thank the State of Missouri, Jackson County, and the City of Kansas City for their long-standing partnership. I look forward to watching Chiefs football at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium together over the next five seasons.

Above all, I want to thank Chiefs Kingdom. You are the heartbeat of this organization. You are the reason we do what we do. And I can’t wait to stand beside you as we approach this next chapter in Chiefs history.

Go Chiefs!

The Chiefs’ announcement comes 20 months after Jackson County voters rejected a plan to extend a 3/8-cent sales tax to renovate Arrowhead Stadium and build a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Now, the Chiefs are rejecting amended plans from Jackson County leaders and Missouri officials to bring the team to Kansas.

It comes after members of the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council unanimously approved a STAR bonds project that will fund a domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, and new practice headquarters in Olathe, Kansas.

This is a developing story. For more stories from KCTV on stadium developments, click here.