Chiefs Finalize $4 Billion Agreement to Relocate Franchise to Kansas

2025-12-23 companies

Kansas City, Tuesday, 23 December 2025.
Ending a 63-year Missouri tenure, the Chiefs will relocate to Kansas in 2031, leveraging STAR bonds to fund a massive $4 billion domed stadium and mixed-use development.

A Historic Shift Across State Lines

On Monday, December 22, 2025, the landscape of the National Football League shifted fundamentally as the Kansas City Chiefs officially announced an agreement with the State of Kansas to relocate the franchise. In a move that will end a tenure in Missouri dating back to 1963, the organization confirmed plans to transition operations to Kansas beginning with the 2031 NFL season [1][2]. The agreement, unveiled by Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, centers on a massive development project that includes a state-of-the-art domed stadium in Wyandotte County and a new corporate headquarters in Olathe [4][7]. This decision follows the approval of the project by the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) on Monday, which voted to authorize the use of Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds to finance the construction [3][5].

Blueprints for a New Era

The financial architecture of this deal relies heavily on Kansas’s STAR bond program, a mechanism designed to spur tourism and entertainment development. Under the terms approved by the LCC, these bonds will cover up to 70% of the project’s costs, funded by future sales and liquor tax revenues generated within the new sports complex district [3][7]. The total capital investment is projected to be a minimum of $4 billion, financed through a public-private partnership where public monies will account for 60% of the funding, with the remaining 40% covered by private investment [1][5]. Specifically, the plan allocates approximately $3 billion for the domed stadium and $300 million for the practice facility, with the remaining funds directed toward mixed-use developments [5]. Calculating the specific allocation for the stadium and practice facility alone indicates a direct sports infrastructure investment of 3.3 billion.

The Border War Reignited

The announcement has drawn sharp reactions from Missouri officials, marking a definitive end to negotiations to keep the team at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe expressed deep disappointment, stating that ownership had decided to “abandon Lamar Hunt’s legacy at the iconic Arrowhead Stadium,” a venue the team has called home since 1972 [6][7]. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas acknowledged that despite a “very fair, but very responsible” offer of over $1.5 billion in taxpayer support from Missouri, the financial package presented by Kansas was significantly more robust [6]. The Chiefs are contractually bound to remain at Arrowhead Stadium through the conclusion of the 2030 season, honoring the remainder of their lease with Jackson County before the scheduled relocation [1][6].

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