The Kansas City Chiefs are currently playing in Arrowhead Stadium, but that name won't be part of their new stadium.
Football history usually takes a distant backseat to money in today’s NFL, with the latest example of this being the Kansas City Chiefs leaving behind the “Arrowhead” moniker when they move into their new building.
The shift was confirmed in a piece written by Jesse Newell of The Athletic, who talked to both owner Clark Hunt and president Mark Donovan, with Donovan noting that the new building will be named after an undetermined corporate sponsor.
Donovan added that the change is designed in part to respect the history of the original Arrowhead Stadium, which was opened in 1972. Not surprisingly, sponsors are currently lining up to get their name associated with the new building, which is expected to be opened in 2031.
First dibs will go to an established corporation with connections to both the Chiefs and the region, and Donovan also said the Chiefs will be asking companies for ways they can improve the new stadium.
The three-word translation for those unfamiliar with such things, is “cash is king.” Sponsorships generally go to the highest bidder, and that’s likely to be the case here, especially with the value of the Chiefs brand.
The Chiefs president also noted that the team is very early in the building process, so the naming is nowhere close to imminent. The Chiefs have released renderings that show a $3 billion dome, with a design that’s similar to the old Arrowhead Stadium bowl, whith includes three decks..
The team did consider retaining the Arrowhead name, and the Chiefs actually filed trademarks for several Arrowhead-related names. According to Donovan, the team went through that process to keep its options open.
The new stadium will be across the state line in Kansas City, Kan., and the Chiefs are also seeking a naming partner for their new practice facility, which will be in Olathe, Kan. Donovan added that a couple of different companies have expressed interest in that possibility.
The Chiefs dropped the name of their former stadium sponsor, G.E.H.A. Insurance, so the stadium that was formerly known as “G.E.H.A Field at Arrowhead Stadium” will now be called “Arrowhead Stadium” through 2030, per Donovan.
It’s a big change, and a lot of history will be lost in the process. The Chiefs are one of the few teams in the NFL with an automatic association to a stadium moniker, and “Arrowhead” has been a strong part of the team’s brand.
