Chiefs’ unveil KCK stadium concept: ‘Built for noise’ (and surrounded by tailgating)

Two Kansas City firms are expected to team with the Chiefs as the football club develops initial concept renderings into a $3 billion state-of-the-art stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, by 2031.

Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, speaks in July 2026 at KC House about the economic impact of the FIFA World Cup on Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Insight into the organization’s plans appears focused on alleviating fans’ concerns that a newly built stadium across the border in Wyandotte County will lack the elements they love most about the current Arrowhead Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex.

“While we’re still finalizing many of the details,” Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Chiefs, said in a release, “there are a few things we know for sure: it will hold 70,000 fans, it will still be the best place in the world to tailgate, and the whole building will be built for noise.”

To get there, the Chiefs selected MANICA as the lead design architect for the project, with sports architecture firm HNTB tapped as the architect of record. Both companies are Kansas City-based.

“We are incredibly fortunate that Kansas City is home to world-class sports and entertainment design talent, and that has been on full display throughout this process,” said Mark Donovan, president of the Chiefs, noting the competitive selection process ultimately led to Wednesday’s release of stadium renderings that serve as a basis for what the project could become. “We look forward to working alongside both firms to refine these plans and deliver the premier sports and entertainment venue not only in the Midwest, but in the world.”

Among the stadium details released alongside the renderings:

• The stadium is expected to be fully enclosed with more than 400,000 square feet of translucent panels directly above the playing surface, maximizing visibility for military flyovers.
• Parking lot infrastructure will be built specifically to enhance the tailgating experience.
• The building’s size, shape, and roof geometry have been studied by audio engineers to maximize crowd noise and help ensure that Chiefs fans can continue to provide an unrivaled homefield advantage.
• The seating bowl is expected to echo the iconic silhouette of Arrowhead Stadium; including a Drum Deck for pregame and in-game ceremonies, as well as the prominent placement of the Chiefs Ring of Honor above the bowl.

Outside the stadium, a Lamar Hunt statue is set to greet fans in a modern plaza area; a curated Chiefs Hall of Honor is planned at more than twice its current size; and a Chiefs Team Store four times larger than the current store is planned.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that improved the gameday experience for every single fan. This new stadium will do just that,” Hunt said. “It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom.”