Concerns are mounting that Arrowhead Stadium might become a neglected “white elephant” once the Kansas City Chiefs depart in 2030, prompting discussions about its potential demolition.

Last week, the Chiefs unveiled a surprising plan to relocate from Missouri, abandoning their renowned Arrowhead home, in favor of constructing a new $3 billion stadium in Kansas, which is set to open for the 2031 season.

This announcement has fueled intense speculation regarding the fate of one of the NFL’s premier stadiums post-Chiefs, with some suggesting it might even face demolition.

According to Front Office Sports, the ultimate decision rests with the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, the current owner of the stadium.

In a conversation with KCMO, Missouri House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson discussed the financial implications of each option, noting that demolition would cost approximately $150 million, while maintaining the stadium in its current state would require $20 million annually.

Meanwhile, Patrick Tuohey – senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute – shared his concerns with Front Office Sports about Arrowhead becoming a relic, which could mean the county opt to knock it down and avoid any long-term headaches.

The Chiefs revealed that they are set to leave Arrowhead for a new stadium in 2031 

The news was confirmed by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt last week

‘My fear is that it’ll be like the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis,’ Tuohey said, referencing the former home of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, who moved to LA after the 2015 season.

It still hosts concerts, but has been hampered by financial issues and reportedly needs $155m to be paid in repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years. It has been claimed that the St. Louis Regional Sports Authority only has $88m in cash, leaving it $67m short.

It also remains to be seen whether legislation will be filed that attempts to put the Chiefs on the hook for some of the costs for upkeep or demolition of Arrowhead after the team leaves for its new home.

‘It’s unbelievable what it costs to demolish those things,’ Patterson said last week.

Meanwhile, prominent Democrat and Congressman Brendan Boyle launched a blistering attack on Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, branding him a ‘welfare king’ over the decision to leave Arrowhead.

The Chiefs, who moved into Arrowhead in 1972, will also build a new team headquarters and training facility in Olathe, Kansas, ready in 2031. 

Chiefs CEO Hunt announced that, as a result of the agreement, the team will relocate across the Missouri River to a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility in Wyandotte County.

Democratic Party member Brendan Boyle ripped into Clark Hunt over the Chiefs’ stadium move

Hunt hailed the move as a ‘momentous step for the franchise’, however U.S. Representative Boyle did not agree and, instead, offered a brutal analysis.

Taking to X on Boxing Day, he wrote: ‘Clark Hunt: the biggest Welfare King in America. Billions of taxpayer money going to this billionaire, while working people suffer. Just a disgrace’. 

According to the Chiefs’ press release, the project is slated to deliver over 20,000 jobs to Kansas and will have an estimated economic impact at around $4.4 billion. 

However, Boyle took issue with the funding behind the project. It will be funded through a public-private partnership – with the public portion accounting for 60 percent of the funding.

Meanwhile, the Hunt family, owners of the franchise, have also committed to $1 billion in additional development. 

Similarly to Boyle, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was informed of the move by team president Mark Donovan, called the day a ‘setback as a Kansas Citian’. 

Arrowhead is widely regarded as one of the best – and loudest – stadiums in the NFL

The likes of Travis Kelce (pictured) and Patrick Mahomes have made the stadium a fortress

‘We are professionals and understand the Chiefs have a business to run and today made a business decision,’ Lucas admitted according to KCTV.

‘Business decisions are a reality, and we all understand that, but Arrowhead Stadium is more – it’s family, tradition, and a part of Kansas City we will never leave’.

The Mayor revealed that Jackson County, the City, and the State of Missouri had organized a massive $1.5 billion package that he described as ‘compelling for team officials and responsible for taxpayers’.

Despite the lucrative offer, the Chiefs still decided to leave their iconic home stadium.