Kansas City Chiefs Select Manica To Design New Domed Stadium
The Kansas City Chiefs revealed initial renderings for their new $3 billion stadium, slated for a 2031 opening in Kansas City, Kansas. Moving from Missouri, the venue, designed by Manica, will boast a translucent ETFE roof and accommodate 70,000 fans. The fully enclosed design prioritizes maximizing crowd noise and enhancing the tailgating experience, while honoring Arrowhead's traditions. It is situated near the Kansas Speedway.
The roof on the planned new stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs will feature a translucent ETFE material. Inside, the Chiefs expect to have seats for about 70,000 fans. Those details about the $3 billion stadium emerge in the first official renderings of the venue as the Chiefs announced the selection of Manica as the lead design architect for the stadium and HNTB as the architect of record.
Planned for a 2031 opening, the new Chiefs stadium moves from Kansas City, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas, into Wyandotte County next to both the Kansas Speedway and Sporting Park, home to MLS. The new stadium for the Chiefs will also come with a range of mixed-use developments around the venue.
“We are incredibly fortunate that Kansas City is home to world-class sports and entertainment design talent, and that has been on full display throughout this process,” says Mark Donovan, Chiefs president. “David [Manica] and the Manica team stood out throughout a rigorous months-long process, honoring and embracing our history while presenting a bold and dynamic vision for the future. We look forward to working alongside both firms to refine these plans and deliver the premier sports and entertainment venue not only in the Midwest, but in the world.”
The announcement wraps a six-month lead design competition process between two finalists. David Manica called it an “honor of a lifetime” to design the next home of the Chiefs in the firm’s hometown. “My entire team is committed to creating a stadium that honors the legacy, tradition and unmatched energy of Arrowhead while boldly reimagining its future,” he says. “This stadium is being designed not just for today’s fans, but for the generations of Chiefs Kingdom to come — a place that reflects the passion, pride and enduring strength of one of the greatest fan bases in all of sports.”
Fully enclosed with a translucent ETFE roof, Manica hopes to improve on many of the team’s traditions. The more than 20,000 parking spaces in the lot will be designed to specifically enhance the tailgating experience. The stadium’s size, shape and roof geometry were determined after audio engineers studied the design to maximize crowd noise. The seating bowl design is reminiscent of the current Arrowhead Stadium with a Drum Deck for celebrations and a prominent placement of the Chiefs Ring of Honor above the bowl. Even the traditional military flyover still has a place in the domed design. The roof will feature more than 400,000 square feet of translucent panels directly above the playing surface, opening views to the sky.
Outside, the plaza will feature the Lamar Hunt statue and a Chiefs Hall of Honor more than twice its current size. The Chiefs expect to open a team store four times larger than their current facility. The stadium will also anchor a mixed-use development designed to offer attractions for fans on gameday.
A public-private partnership is funding the stadium, with the public portion funded through Sales Tax and Revenue bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund.
Along with the new stadium, the Chiefs plan a $300 million practice facility and headquarters in Olathe, Kansas, also slated for a 2031 opening.
“The opportunity to help shape the next home of the Kansas City Chiefs is deeply meaningful to HNTB,” said Tom O’Grady, president of HNTB and project executive. “This project brings together our deep roots in Kansas City and our experience delivering transformative sports and entertainment venues that elevate the fan experience and strengthen community connections. Together with Manica, we look forward to creating a destination that reflects the legacy of the Chiefs and becomes an enduring landmark for generations of fans.”