Chiefs unveil vision, concepts for renovated Arrowhead Stadium

By TOMMY REZAC

St. Joseph Post

The Kansas City Chiefs unveiled initial concepts for a complete reimagination and renovation of Arrowhead Stadium Wednesday that team officials say will move the iconic stadium into the future.

“For more than five decades, Arrowhead Stadium has been the home of the Chiefs, and a home for so many of our fans,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said.

“This is where generations of Chiefs fans fell in love with the game. History has been written here, legends have been born here, and lifelong memories have been made within these walls. The stadium has become part of the fabric of our community. Today we are excited to share our plans to extend the life of Arrowhead for future generations of Chiefs fans.”

The team consulted with a team of experts from Populous –a renowned sports design and architecture firm headquartered in Kansas City – on best-in-class features and concepts.

Chiefs officials presented renderings and video Wednesday of proposed repairs, maintenance, renovations and enhancements that would maintain Arrowhead for years to come.

The price tag for the whole project is $800 million. Of that, $300 million would be paid by the Chiefs, who also would pay for cost overruns.

The remainder will be largely up to Jackson County taxpayers, who will decide whether to fund the project with an April 2 ballot measure to secure a 40-year, 3/8th-cent sales tax that would send equal dollars to the Chiefs and Royals.

The Royals would use that funding to build a new baseball park in the Crossroads District.

“There are many steps to go - the first and most important is April 2,” Donovan said.

Renovation concepts include:

1. New turf-covered Activation Zone with tailgate areas and covered entertainment space built over the current site of Kauffman Stadium for gameday activations and year-round community opportunities.
2. A new Upper Concourse Connection Bridge will create 360-degree wrap-around connectivity for fans on the upper concourse as well as additional space for new food and beverage points of sale.
3. Upper Concourse Canopy will provide weather protection for all fans on the upper-level concourse, in addition to infrared heaters and overhead fans increasing year-round comfort.
4. New VIP Stadium Entry Points will lead to all-new spaces inside the stadium and will also decrease fan traffic and congestion at existing general admission gates.
5. New Sideline Clubs will be constructed after excavating under the lower-level seating bowl to create new premium experiences for gamedays and special events.
6. New Video Boards will be increased in size while keeping their iconic shape to complement the stadium’s unique curved endzones while new LED Ribbon Boards will also be installed.
7. Upgraded TV, Wi-Fi, DAS (distributed antenna system) and Audio System Technology will be introduced throughout the stadium, enhancing fan connectivity as well as the clarity and quality of the game presentation in-stadium.
8. New End Zone Clubs and Suites will introduce new viewing and hospitality experiences that are now common in newer NFL venues.
9. New Concession Stands, Retail Spaces and Restrooms will result in improved access and reduced wait times around the building.
10. A New Field Access Tunnel will provide a new field access point for visiting teams, closer access to new visiting team areas, as well as faster event turnover for major concerts and other special events.
11. Full Suite and Club Lounge renovations and updates will deliver the latest in technology, fixtures and furniture for every existing suite.
12. Traditional Concession Stands will be converted to modern Grab-n-Go Markets throughout general concourses, resulting in an anticipated increase in speed of service by 30-40% and transaction times will decrease with new point-of-sale technology systems.
13. Three new Pedestrian Bridges will eliminate interruptions to vehicular traffic flow, resulting in improved safety and event experience.
14. Dedicated Rideshare Zone promoting a more seamless rideshare experience for football games and concerts while reducing congestion.
15. New Parking Deck on south side of the stadium and Expanded Parking on north side of the stadium at the current site of Kauffman Stadium increases the total number of paved parking spots, while Reoriented Parking Lots improve pedestrian flow and the tailgating experience.
16. Lot O RV Parking Lot will be expanded, paved and permanently lit, with permanent restroom facilities being added for the user experience.

“Today is a major milestone in a very long and complex process that has taken place behind the scenes for more than two years,” Donovan continued."

“It's important to recognize the work of our internal team, as well as the team from Populous, who have worked closely on this project from the time that we started reviewing core samples of concrete through today’s announcement. There will continue to be many steps, tweaks and updates as we move forward, but we hope Chiefs fans are excited and encouraged by the significant progress and investment that has been made and will continue to be made going forward.”

Fans can view the full video as well as renderings by clicking here.

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