“If he could pick one vacation spot in the world, it would be Arrowhead.” When Clark Hunt talked about Lamar’s love for Arrowhead, he knew just how important the stadium was to his father. After all, a few years after their move to Kansas City, Lamar Hunt had commissioned a new stadium in 1968. Four years later, they had officially moved to Arrowhead. 

And it’s been the team’s home since 1972, a stadium synonymous with deafening crowds and a genuine home-field advantage. But the team will move to a new stadium in 2031, officially changing the team’s address for good. That decision has drawn some criticism from former Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil, who spent five seasons at the helm and is a little hesitant about the team’s move.

“Well, it’s all part of progress, as we all know, and that’s not a brilliant statement,” Dick Vermeil said on Arrowhead Allies. “I know I would be against it just because I think it represents the roots and foundation of the National Football League, starting with Lamar Hunt. That football stadium is Lamar Hunt. His statue’s around in the front. No matter where they move it, it’ll never be the same.” 

“But it’ll be very, very good. But Clark is not going to do anything that isn’t good for the Kansas City Chiefs organization and for the city and the community and both states. So, yeah, I think it’s disappointing for everybody.”

Vermeil isn’t wrong. Back when Lamar Hunt moved the Dallas Texans to Kansas City and rebranded it to the modern Kansas City Chiefs, they used the Municipal Stadium because it was the city’s multi-sport facility. However, the move to Arrowhead was their first proper home, built specifically for the team. Hunt had even named the stadium 

The Arrowhead became synonymous with the team and eventually became the heart of the city’s sports culture. The arrowheads used to mark the line of scrimmage and line to gain were adopted by the NFL in 1978. And it gave us plenty of iconic memories too. From the deafening 142.2 decibels during the Chiefs’ 41-14 win against the New England Patriots to the pre-game flyovers, Arrowhead became the fans’ home. 

That’s why Clark Hunt’s first instinct wasn’t to look at a new stadium. Back in 2022, he promised the team would see if they could simply renovate the stadium and continue to call it their home. 

“That would be our No. 1 priority… We’re very hopeful we’ll be able to renovate Arrowhead Stadium when the time comes but we’re probably still a year-plus from being able to make that determination. What I’ve learned through the process is it’s not a very simple answer when you’re trying to determine whether a building can go another 25 or 30 years starting eight years from now.

And we can see why he wouldn’t want to leave. Clark has some special memories of his own of the Arrowhead, including those with his father. The two wanted to see the venue eventually host the FIFA World Cup someday. 

However, Lamar passed away before the dream could be realized. Clark Hunt made sure to honor it when FIFA did come to Arrowhead this summer for the 2026 World Cup.

“We have so many fond memories as a family attending World Cups together. And to have games in his favorite place on earth, Arrowhead Stadium, will be very, very meaningful for me and my family.”

In any case, Hunt isn’t replacing the stadium. As his father did back in the ‘60s, he is trying to keep the franchise up to date with modern standards. 

The Chiefs have come a long way since their first Super Bowl. They’ve won three more Lombardi trophies, established their dynasty, and dominated the AFC West. If anything, Clark Hunt is adding on to the legacy his father created. 

The Chiefs are going full steam ahead with their move to the new stadium. Fans already got their first real look at what’s coming when renderings for the new $3 billion stadium in Kansas dropped this past July, and it’s clear the team isn’t trying to erase its past so much as reimagine it.

Design firm MANICA, based in Kansas City, is behind the build. The standout feature is a fully enclosed roof made of translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene panels. It is a marked departure from the open-roofed Arrowhead. In a move to keep the Chiefs in Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe proposed adding a retractable dome to the iconic stadium.

Despite going indoors, the design leans hard into nostalgia. The curved, symmetrical exterior and that scalloped upper deck in each end zone are direct nods to Arrowhead.

Money-wise, this is a massive undertaking. Kansas lawmakers unanimously approved STAR bonds in late December 2025 to cover up to 70 percent of the total cost of the project. Clark Hunt and his family are chipping in an additional $1 billion of their own.

As for what fans can expect inside, Hunt said in a statement released by the Chiefs that the new building will seat 70,000 people and has actually been engineered to make the crowd louder. There’s also room for more than 20,000 parking spots outside.

Hunt didn’t stop at the numbers; he made sure to frame the project around what it means for the people showing up on game day.

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

And if it’s any consolation, current coach Andy Reid is in support of the move. “From the coach’s standpoint, I think that’s a beautiful thing. Getting a new stadium, I think, is great for both Kansas and Missouri to have a first-class stadium here, and with all the modern innovations that have come out in stadium building, it will be there.”

The Chiefs still have a few years left in the Arrowhead, but make no mistake, the move will be happening in 2031.