The Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium is set to get millions of dollars of improvements after the venue was one of 11 NFL stadiums chosen as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host.
Kansas City Mayor Quiton Lucas said on Twitter that the improvements to the stadium, which has been home to the Chiefs since 1972, will cost $50 million. Quiton said he expects the upgrades to come from state funds and private fundraising.
“Only actual cost right now is $50M of improvements to Arrowhead Stadium,” Lucas said on Twitter, responding to KCUR-TV reporter Celisa Calacal. “Look for an ask to the state on that in addition to private fundraising to fund that step. That is unless the future of the stadiums chat progresses further.”
And we're here to answer. Only actual cost right now is $50M of improvements to Arrowhead Stadium. Look for an ask to the state on that in addition to private fundraising to fund that step. That is unless the future of the stadiums chat progresses further.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) June 17, 2022
According to Profootballtalk.com, the team’s lease at the Truman Sports Complex runs through 2031, and Chiefs president Mark Donovan said recently the team could leave Kansas City for a new stadium in the suburbs.
Arrowhead Stadium received $13 million in upgrades during the 2021 offseason.
Donovan said the focus for now is on the 2023 NFL draft and the 2026 World Cup.
“We’re focused on getting this right, and then, coming out of it, it’s to be part of the discussion about what comes next,” Donovan told Joshua Brisco of 810 Sports. “As you can imagine, a tens-and-tens-of-millions-of-dollar project that we’re going to put in to get ready for (the World Cup), that’s got to factor into those discussions and that decision, and it will.”
