The state of Missouri is preparing to lose another NFL franchise, and this time the departure hits especially close to home. The Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday that they plan to leave Arrowhead Stadium and move to a new domed facility in Kansas, marking Missouri’s third loss of an NFL team and the second in just over a decade. The move follows a decision by Kansas lawmakers earlier in the day to approve a bond package that helps fund the new stadium.
The new facility will be built near Kansas Speedway and a retail and entertainment area known as The Legends in Kansas City, Kansas. While the site is only about 30 miles from Arrowhead Stadium, the emotional distance for many fans and local leaders in Missouri feels far greater.
Never thought I’d live to see this day…
BREAKING: Kansas City Chiefs officially announcing they’re crossing the state line to KANSAS for a brand-new stadium!
Goodbye Arrowhead? Hello Sunflower State?
#KCChiefs #NFL pic.twitter.com/mKULZ1PtTL
— TC (@musicalvagabond) December 22, 2025
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas shared a personal reflection shortly after the announcement. He spoke about growing up in difficult circumstances and how Arrowhead Stadium represented something positive during that time. He recalled attending his first Chiefs game in 1993, sitting in the upper deck during a preseason loss, and becoming a lifelong fan from that moment on. Lucas acknowledged that Missouri officials made a serious effort to keep the team but said Kansas ultimately offered a stronger public financing package. He described the move as a business decision and said the city wished the team well.
Missouri lawmakers had attempted to compete with Kansas by passing legislation during a special session in June. Backed by Governor Mike Kehoe, the plan authorized bonds covering up to 50 percent of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, along with up to $50 million in tax credits for each stadium and additional help from local governments. Despite these efforts, the Chiefs chose the Kansas proposal.
For Immediate Release: State Senator Rick Brattin responds to Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to leave Missouri after decades of loyalty from Missourians. pic.twitter.com/EAfMfMcfoK
Should the Kansas City Chiefs remain in Missouri instead of moving to Kansas?— Rick Brattin (@RickBrattin) December 23, 2025
The Chiefs’ departure adds to a long list of professional teams that have left Missouri over the years. In St. Louis, the Cardinals moved to the Phoenix area in 1988, and the Rams relocated to Los Angeles after the 2015 season. The Rams later built SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, at a reported cost of more than $5 billion. Other teams that previously left Missouri include the Kansas City Athletics in Major League Baseball, the Kansas City Kings in the NBA, and the Kansas City Scouts in the NHL.
Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer also once played at Arrowhead Stadium before moving to Children’s Mercy Park on the Kansas side of the state line. That stadium sits near the area where the Chiefs plan to build their new home. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson reacted to the announcement by saying it felt like Kansas had “won the Super Bowl.”
For more than 50 years, the Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals have shared the Truman Sports Complex, where Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium sit just a short walk apart. Arrowhead is known for its loud crowd and tailgating culture, while Kauffman is recognized for its fountains and scenic design. Both teams have enjoyed success there in recent years.
The Chiefs, despite being 6-9 and eliminated from playoff contention this season, have appeared in three straight Super Bowls and seven consecutive conference championship games prior to this year. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has led the team to three Super Bowl titles in five appearances. The Royals, meanwhile, won the World Series in 2015 and returned to the playoffs after the 2024 season. They are led by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and have posted back-to-back winning seasons.
Attention is now turning to whether the Royals might follow the Chiefs into Kansas. The team has stated it will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2031 season and has preferred a new downtown ballpark. Voters in Jackson County, Missouri, rejected a sales tax extension last year that would have funded an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals. Through an affiliate, the Royals have since purchased the mortgage on land in Overland Park, Kansas.
Fans across the region reacted quickly to the Chiefs’ decision. Some expressed concern about rising ticket prices in a new stadium, while others worried about traffic, construction, and the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium. Dustin Allen, a Missouri resident visiting downtown Kansas City, said he liked the current location and felt uncertain about the move. Mike Robinson, a season ticket holder from Kansas City, Kansas, said he expects prices to rise and worries about affordability. Analaysia Miller, also from Kansas City, Kansas, said she was not strongly affected by the decision as long as the team remains in the area and continues representing the city.
As plans move forward, the Chiefs’ decision marks a major shift in the region’s sports landscape and leaves Missouri once again facing questions about how to keep professional teams within its borders.
