Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday that an agreement has been reached to build a new domed stadium and mixed-use entertainment district in Kansas, a project state officials say will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in economic impact.
The agreement includes a $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County, scheduled to open for the start of the 2031 NFL season, along with a mixed-use entertainment district. A second component of the deal calls for a new Chiefs headquarters and training facility, along with mixed-use development, in Olathe in Johnson County.
State officials estimate the construction phase alone will create more than 20,000 jobs and generate $4.4 billion in economic impact, with the stadium expected to bring more than $1 billion annually to Kansas once completed.
“This is a game-changer for Kansas,” Kelly said, calling the agreement a major step in growing jobs, tourism and long-term economic development.
The deal was approved Monday by the Legislative Coordinating Council with bipartisan support and will be structured as a public-private partnership. Officials said the agreement will not require funding from the current state budget or new taxes on Kansans.
The project will be financed through STAR bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund, which uses revenue from sports betting and iLottery. The Hunt family, owners of the Chiefs, will also commit at least $1 billion in additional development.
Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt called the agreement “an extraordinary day” for the franchise, while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the project as a long-term investment in one of the league’s strongest fan bases.
Kansas officials say the project represents one of the largest economic development wins in state history.
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