Chiefs' Move to New Stadium Leaves Travis Kelce 'Heartbroken'

Longtime Kansas City tight end reflects on leaving Arrowhead Stadium after 13 seasons with the team.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Kansas City Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce expressed mixed emotions about the team's decision to leave Arrowhead Stadium and move to a new $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas by 2031. While Kelce acknowledged the new stadium will be 'unbelievable,' he called the move 'heartbreaking' as Arrowhead has been the home of the Chiefs for over 53 years and the site of many of Kelce's career highlights.

Why it matters

Arrowhead Stadium has been an iconic part of the Kansas City sports landscape for over half a century, and the Chiefs' move across state lines to a new domed stadium will mark the end of an era for the franchise and its longtime players like Kelce. The decision reflects the team's desire to modernize and attract major events, but also highlights the emotional connection fans and players have with the historic Arrowhead venue.

The details

The Chiefs announced in December 2025 that they will be leaving Arrowhead Stadium and Missouri by the end of the 2030 season to build a new $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas. The new domed stadium is expected to open in 2031 and will give the team the ability to host events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four that Arrowhead could not accommodate. While Kelce acknowledged the benefits of the new stadium, he expressed sadness about leaving the iconic Arrowhead, where he has spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Chiefs.

  • The Chiefs announced the move to a new stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas in December 2025.
  • The new $3 billion stadium is expected to open in 2031.
  • Kelce has spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

The players

Travis Kelce

A 13-year veteran tight end who has spent his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Clark Hunt

The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, who announced the decision to move the team to a new stadium in Kansas.

Lamar Hunt

The founder of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise, who Clark Hunt referenced as being focused on the fans in the decision to build a new stadium.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's going to be unbelievable once it's finally set in stone. But it is going to be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the Chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead.”

— Travis Kelce (New Heights podcast)

“We made a decision as a family that this was the right opportunity and the best for the organization for several reasons. It's about the fans. My dad [Lamar Hunt, who founded the franchise] was always about the fans and thinking about the future.”

— Clark Hunt, Chiefs owner (Press conference)

What’s next

The Chiefs are expected to continue playing at Arrowhead Stadium through the 2030 season before moving to their new $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas in 2031.

The takeaway

The Chiefs' decision to leave their longtime home of Arrowhead Stadium for a new state-of-the-art facility across state lines in Kansas reflects the team's desire to modernize and attract major events, but also highlights the emotional connection players like Travis Kelce have with the iconic venue that has hosted the franchise for over 50 years.