Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announces Chiefs’ move to the State of Kansas
Hello, good afternoon, everybody. And oh what an afternoon it is. Uh, before I get started though, I, I need to recognize the good hard work of our lieutenant governor and Secretary of Commerce, David Tolley. And his absolutely superb team at Commerce, they worked day in and day out around the clock in concert with the legislature and with the chiefs to make this dream come true. We would not be here today were it not for David Tolan’s patience, persistence, and perseverance. So on behalf of every Chiefs loving fan. I thank you, David. But no, I will not be renegotiating your paycheck. You know, in my over 7 years, oh well, 7 years as governor, I’ve had the privilege of making some really big announcements, but none bigger than this. Today’s announcement is truly historic. Actually, it’s *** little bit surreal. Today’s announcement will touch the lives of Kansans for generations to come. Today’s announcement is *** total game changer for our state. Because today we are announcing an agreement to bring our beloved Kansas City Chiefs right here to Kansas. And for the rest of the nation, I say take heed. Kansas is not *** flyover state. We are *** touchdown state. When I became governor in 2019, I first needed to fix Kansas, then to grow Kansas. And the way to do that was not only to attract new businesses and jobs to Kansas. But to change people’s perceptions of our state. People needed to see Kansas for what it is. *** place of innovation, *** place where big things happen, *** place where young people can pursue their dreams. Truly the best place to live, work, and raise *** family. *** place they’re proud to call home. *** very cool place. And what could be crueler than being home to the Kansas City Chiefs. We are turning Kansas into *** national center for sports and entertainment. We are making Kansas *** tourist destination for the region, for the nation, and for the world. The economic impact of all of this is massive. The new stadium will be in Wyandotte County. It will be *** world-class facility, the envy of professional sports. It will be surrounded by an entertainment district to beat all entertainment districts, hotels and restaurants and bars and more. Game day will be all day. And there’s more, uh, *** lot more. The Chiefs will establish *** new team headquarters and *** brand new practice facility in Olathe, Kansas. All of this will amount to over 20,000 jobs and over $4 billion in economic impact, and that’s just during the construction phase. That’s electricians and construction workers, iron workers and carpenters, good jobs, jobs that support families, and very significantly, this agreement protects Kansas taxpayers, with the state’s portion coming from revenue generated by the stadium. Entertainment venues and the Starbond District, as well as lottery funds. So let me repeat, the state’s portion of this project is paid for with revenue generated from the project, not with new taxes, not by shifting funding from other essential state services, but with the new revenue that will be generated by the project itself. You know, when, when we talk about the Chiefs in Kansas, it’s not just about the dollars and cents and the new jobs and the prestige. It’s about bringing together two forces, the chiefs and the state of Kansas, that have so much in common. *** rich tradition, *** solid work ethic. An all for 11 for all approach to living, *** healthy, competitive spirit and *** love of winning. Chiefs won 3 Super Bowls over the past 5 years because they worked hard and they worked together. I can brag that it was during my tenure in office she’s was so successful. And also why they decided to move to Kansas. But this win is not mine alone to celebrate. Just look behind me on the stage. This got done because we brought Republicans and Democrats together at the local and state level. Everyone committed to doing what’s best for Kansas and for our future. You don’t often see this type of bipartisanship in our politics today, but that’s how we do things here in Kansas. Especially when the stakes are high. And the Clark Hunt and the entire Chiefs organization, you, your family, your entire organization are one class act, winners on and off the field. And Clark, I know you chose Kansas because you’ve always got an eye on the future. Well, so do we. We’ve always been Chiefs fans, and now we are Chiefs family. Welcome home to Kansas.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announces Chiefs’ move to the State of Kansas
Updated: 6:14 PM CST Dec 22, 2025
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday that the Chiefs are moving to Kansas. You can watch the full announcement above.
TOPEKA, Kan. —
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday that the Chiefs are moving to Kansas.
You can watch the full announcement above.