Chiefs Announce Move Away from Iconic Arrowhead Stadium

Tight end Travis Kelce expresses heartbreak over the team's relocation from its longtime home in Missouri.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to move away from Arrowhead Stadium, the team's home since its inception in 1972. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce emotionally reacted to the news, calling it a "heartbreaking" decision while acknowledging the business realities behind the team's relocation to a new stadium in Kansas.

Why it matters

Arrowhead Stadium has been an iconic landmark in Kansas City and a beloved home for the Chiefs franchise for over 50 years. The move represents the end of an era and will be a significant loss for the local community, who have long embraced the team and its history at the stadium.

The details

The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972, but their lease with Jackson County, Missouri expires at the end of the 2031 season. In December 2025, lawmakers in Kansas unanimously agreed to fund a new $3 billion domed stadium for the team, covering up to 70% of the cost. The projected location for the new stadium is about 25 miles west of Arrowhead, near the Kansas Speedway and The Legends entertainment district.

  • The Chiefs' lease with Jackson County, Missouri expires at the end of the 2031 season.
  • In December 2025, Kansas lawmakers agreed to fund a new $3 billion domed stadium for the Chiefs.

The players

Travis Kelce

A 36-year-old tight end who has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and is contemplating retirement.

Clark Hunt

The owner and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, whose late father Lamar Hunt founded the franchise.

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What they’re saying

“It is going to be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the Chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead and that Missouri side of Kansas City.”

— Travis Kelce, Tight end (New Heights podcast)

“We're going over to Kansas, but at the same time, if you look at that deal in terms of an owner? That's one of the greatest opportunities you could ever get as an owner.”

— Travis Kelce, Tight end (New Heights podcast)

What’s next

The Chiefs' lease with Jackson County, Missouri expires at the end of the 2031 season, after which the team will officially move to their new stadium in Kansas.

The takeaway

The relocation of the Kansas City Chiefs from the iconic Arrowhead Stadium marks the end of an era for the franchise and its loyal fanbase. While the move presents business opportunities for the team's owners, it will be a bittersweet transition that highlights the realities of modern professional sports.