KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs unveiled Wednesday the first renderings for their new stadium in Kansas that is scheduled to open for the NFL's 2031 season.
One of the biggest aspects of the design from MANICA, a Kansas City architecture firm, is that the $3 billion, fully enclosed dome will feature a ceiling of translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene panels. The new stadium's design also pays homage to Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs' longtime home venue in Missouri, which opened in 1972. Similar to Arrowhead, the dome will be built with a symmetrical and curved exterior, including a scalloped upper deck in each end zone, continuing the Chiefs' unique look when compared to other NFL stadiums.
In a statement released by the Chiefs, club owner Clark Hunt said the stadium will hold 70,000 seats and will be built with the intention of amplifying crowd noise, a request that he heard from several season-ticket members in multiple surveys. In 2014, Arrowhead regained the Guinness world record for loudest stadium -- after fans for the Seattle Seahawks broke the record -- with the fans' collective voices generating 142.2 decibels.
Chiefs and MANICA "From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that [improves] the gameday experience for every single fan," Hunt said in the statement. "This new stadium will do just that. It's spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom."
In late December, Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously to allow for sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds to be issued to cover up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and the accompanying mixed-use district, including the Chiefs' new training facility. Hunt said he and his family will commit $1 billion in additional development, a portion that will be incentivized by the STAR bonds.
In the team's statement, Hunt said the new stadium will still be an ideal place for Chiefs fans to tailgate, which has been a distinct aesthetic surrounding Arrowhead. The atmosphere hours before kickoff -- with tantalizing smells of barbecue -- is similar to a major college football campus. The new stadium will be surrounded by more than 20,000 parking spots.
"I've been thrilled with what I've seen," Hunt said in late March of the dome's potential. "It's very, very exciting. Our fan base is going to get an incredible stadium, something that'll be iconic and serve the community well for a minimum of 30 years -- and hopefully closer to 60."
Chiefs and MANICA The site for the new dome has still not been decided. In late December, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the stadium will be in Wyandotte County. In the past, the Chiefs have been interested in having the dome built in Kansas City, Kansas, near the Kansas Speedway and a retail and entertainment district known as The Legends. The area is also the home to Children's Mercy Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City.