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Essentials Inside The Story

  • Chiefs inform officials as relocation announcement nears.
  • Kansas gains momentum amid stalled Missouri negotiations.
  • Arrowhead lease timeline now defines the franchise’s immediate future.

Barely anything went well for the Kansas City Chiefs this season. They were eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since 2014; quarterback Patrick Mahomes was injured and underwent surgery; they also lost backup Gardner Minshew to an injury. But what’s about to happen next will be the final nail in the coffin.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

The Chiefs, as reported by the Kansas City Star, have decided to relocate from Missouri to Kansas to build a new stadium. The news has been further made official with a glowing red sign in the state office building, which reads, “Chiefs in Kansas.”

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Additionally, the franchise has made it official as well.

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“Today, we are excited to take another momentous step for the future of the franchise. We have entered into an agreement with the State of Kansas to host Chiefs football beginning with the 2031 NFL season.

“In the years ahead, we look forward to designing and building a state-of-the-art domed stadium and mixed-use district in Wyandotte County and a best-in-class training facility, team headquarters, and mixed-use district in Olathe, totaling a minimum of $4 billion of development in the State of Kansas,” the team mentioned in their statement.

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This move comes after an official letter from Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. In the letter, the Missouri executive highlighted how the Chiefs could lose a whopping $524 million in incentives if they leave Kansas City. However, with Arrowhead Stadium aging, the incentives are seemingly not enough to keep the Chiefs there anymore.

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In case you’re wondering why, it surely has a lot to do with the fact that Kansas legislative leaders, in a unanimous vote behind closed doors, agreed to issue STAR bonds, which will help the Chiefs pay for 70% of the cost of the new stadium, which is estimated to be around $3 billion.

This new project will involve a stadium and entertainment district located near the Legends district in Wyandotte County, and also a new headquarters for the team and a training facility in Olathe.

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All that said, the deal has been years in the making, surpassing truces between Kansas and Missouri to put an end to the economic border issues among the two states.

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Decades-long history ends with one decision

The Chiefs moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1963 after winning the AFL Championship. They changed their name to the Kansas City Chiefs from the Dallas Texans. Since then, the team has appeared in the playoffs 27 times and won four Super Bowls. Three of them were won with Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, earning the tag of a dynasty.

And now, this dynasty is choosing a new home. The relocation is the consequence of Missouri’s decision to vote down a sales tax measure that would have helped the Chiefs with their $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead.

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Now, the Chiefs are set to announce the construction of the new stadium in Kansas. The only thing standing in their way is the approval of the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC). The Chiefs will continue to play in Arrowhead Stadium till the 2031 season, waiting out the expiration of their current lease.

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The Legends, a massive retail and entertainment district located near the Kansas Speedway, is being reported as the new landing place for the Chiefs. This move will be a huge blow to the Missouri government, as a second NFL franchise leaves the state in a decade after the Rams’ move from St. Louis.

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Written by

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Apoorva Behl

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Apoorva Behl is a sports writer for EssentiallySports. With a range that would make Bruce Lee proud, Apoorva’s writing embodies the philosophy of "Be Like Water," flowing seamlessly between a diverse range of sports and sensitive angles. Her articles are known to resonate with her audience, earning her a common spot on the Editor’s Pick list.

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Edited by

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Shrabana Sengupta

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