Why Chiefs Are Considering A Dome For Their Future Stadium

GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is shown during the first half of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

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With their current GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium lease ending in 2031, the Kansas City Chiefs are evaluating whether to make their next stadium a dome.

“It’s one of the biggest things we’ve got to consider,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan exclusively shared.

Converting to a dome would have positives and negatives.

On the negative side, the Chiefs have benefited from open-air conditions, memorably pummeling the Miami Dolphins, 26-7, in fourth-coldest game in NFL history, as temperatures reached minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of minus-27. The warm-weather Dolphins seemed ill-equipped to handle the adverse conditions of that wild-card game in 2024.

“There’s a home-field advantage to playing playoff games in the cold,” Donovan said.

A domed stadium, however, could bring in revenue by luring future Super Bowls, BIG 12 Championship Games or Final Fours.

“There’s a huge advantage from an event standpoint,” Donovan said, “and from a fan experience.”

If the Chiefs do decide on a dome, it would be in Kansas. If they stay in Missouri, they would renovate the stadium and likely expand the tailgating space (especially if the MLB’s Kansas City Royals vacate the Truman Sports Complex) but not build a new domed or open-air stadium.

Kansas — but not the Missouri location — also offers the potential to develop an entertainment district around a new stadium.

Border War To Land The Chiefs

The Chiefs’ current home resides on the Missouri side of the border next to Kauffman Stadium of the Royals, but Kansas has been making a huge push over the last year to land the Chiefs and/or the Royals.

On June 21, 2024, Kansas governor Laura Kelly signed into law an expansive plan to issue STAR (sales tax and revenue) bonds to help fund the new stadiums.

The Sunflower State has a unique funding system, and under its proposal, state lawmakers would issue bonds for up to 70% of the estimated cost of the stadium project, but the Missouri plan still calls for covering a lesser but ample 50% of the costs.

“The commitment on both sides has been really humbling,” Donovan said.

Ty Masterson, the president of the Kansas Senate, has expressed cautious optimism about getting the Chiefs to move across state lines.

“There is some sentimental value to Arrowhead in Missouri,” Masterson said. “All things equal: I would expect them to stay in Missouri, but all things aren’t equal.”

Owner Clark Hunt has reiterated that sentimental value, stating that Arrowhead was the favorite place in the world for his father/Chiefs found Lamar Hunt, but one of Clark’s siblings noted that Lamar also had the foresight to move the franchise from Dallas to Kansas City in the 1960s and would want his sons to make the decision that’s in the best interest of the franchise.

In the present times, Chiefs fans anxiously await updates, but Donovan and the Chiefs are busy working with legislators, architects and politicians as they evaluate their options.

“It’s a multi-year process,” Donovan said.

As part of that process, whenever the Chiefs play in a road game, Donovan and Clark make a point to diligently tour that stadium’s setup and hospitality options (like Allegiant Stadium’s posh Wynn Club for VIP attendees) and analyze what is successful and what could be improved upon.

What The Fans Want

The Chiefs also have taken into account input from their fans, and that includes whether they want a climate-controlled indoor facility.

“As people value their investments like season tickets, if you can consistently deliver 72 degrees, it’s a little different than (100 degrees),” Donovan said. “But you weigh that against the experience of Arrowhead (being) special the way it is.”

One constant emphasis from fans is that they seek a loud atmosphere and ample space to tailgate.

“Frankly, the biggest competitive advantage we have is our fans and that energy they create,” Donovan said. “We think that will be created whether it’s in a dome or a renovated stadium.”