The NFL’s Christmas Day lineup is lacking serious holiday magic this year
Christmas Day 2025 is already looking like a bust for the NFL due to injuries and teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to receive approval to build a new stadium in Kansas.The new stadium will be located in Wyandotte County and is projected to be ready for the 2031 season.Plans for the new venue include a roof to allow for year-round events like the Super Bowl or Final Four.
The Kansas City Chiefs are heading across the border from Missouri to Kansas (next decade), with the official announcement expected later Dec. 22 following a meeting of a key legislative committee.
The eight-person Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) passed the legislation necessary for the green light Dec. 22, with bipartisan support. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly had teased a “special announcement” earlier Dec. 22 as well.
The Chiefs have been negotiating with both the governments of Missouri and Kansas regarding their future home. Kansas City has played its home games at Arrowhead Stadium, located on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, since 1972.
Chiefs’ new stadium expected to be ready for 2031 NFL season
The exact location of the new stadium is unknown but the land will be in Wyandotte County, not far from the Kansas Speedway and where Major League Soccer’s Sporting KC is headquartered. The new stadium will be ready for the 2031 season since the team’s current lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires after 2030.
Kelly and Chiefs owner Clark Hunt were seen holding a Chiefs No. 31 jersey prior to the official announcement.
“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Hunt said in a statement. “We are excited to partner with the state of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt. The stadium, practice facility, and surrounding development will benefit the entire region, and further elevate Kansas City in the eyes of the country and the world.”
The venue will have a roof to make it a year-round hosting site, with designs on the stadium hosting the biggest events in sports, such as the Final Four or Super Bowl. Chiefs president Mark Donovan said the new stadium’s capacity would be approximately 65-68,000.
“The benefit to the entire region will be monumental,” Hunt wrote in a letter to “Chiefs Kingdom.”
It continued: “Of course, it will be difficult to bid farewell to Arrowhead Stadium in a few years. Like so many of you, Arrowhead reminds me of family memories and unforgettable moments. But the truth is, what makes Chiefs gamedays so special is you. Seats don’t make noise, concrete doesn’t intimidate opponents, parking lots don’t cook barbecue. You do.”
According to the Kansas City Star, the state will provide up to 70% of the funding for the stadium and the public-private partnership is 60-40% officially, with the Hunt family contributing $1 billion that can be incentivized through special bonds. The projected total price tag of the project is $3 billion. The governor’s office said construction will not lead to new taxes on Kansans. Estimates say the new stadium will create about $4.4 billion in economic impact – with about $1.8 million of public investment.
“This agreement to bring the Chiefs to Kansas takes our state to the next level. With this new stadium,we’re creating thousands of jobs, bringing in tourists from around the world, attracting young people, and most importantly, we’re continuing to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,” Kansas Gov. Kelly said. “This is a game-changer for Kansas, and it’s a signal to America and the world that our state’s future is very bright.”
The Chiefs are also moving their training facility to Olathe, Kansas – another suburb of Kansas City. That project does not currently have a timeline.