Arrowhead Stadium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead
Aerial view of Arrowhead Stadium with part of Kauffman Stadium visible in the top left corner
Arrowhead Stadium Location in Missouri Show map of Missouri Arrowhead Stadium Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Full name	GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Address	1 Arrowhead Drive
Location	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Coordinates	39°2′56″N 94°29′2″W / 39.04889°N 94.48389°W / 39.04889; -94.48389
Public transit	KCATA: Route 47
Owner	Jackson County Sports Complex Authority
Operator	Kansas City Chiefs
Executive suites	128
Capacity	76,416 (2010–present) Former capacity: List 78,097 (1972–1994) 79,101 (1995–1996) 79,451 (1997–2009)
Surface	TartanTurf (1972–1993) Latitude 36 Bermuda Grass (1994–2012) NorthBridge Bermudagrass (2013–present)
Construction
Broke ground	July 11, 1968; 57 years ago (1968-07-11)
Opened	August 12, 1972; 53 years ago (1972-08-12)
Renovated	1991, 1994, 2007–2010
Expanded	1995, 1997
Construction cost	US$43 million ($301 million in 2022 dollars ) US$375 million (2007–2010 renovation) ($503 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	Kivett and Myers Populous (2007–2010 renovations)
Structural engineer	Bob D. Campbell & Co. Structural Engineers
General contractor	Sharp-Kidde-Webb Joint Venture
Tenants
Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) 1972–present Kansas City Wizards (MLS) 1996–2007 Kansas Jayhawks football (2024)

GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is a famous American football stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. It is the home field for the Kansas City Chiefs, a team in the National Football League (NFL).

This stadium was built at the same time as Kauffman Stadium, which is right next door. Together, they form the Truman Sports Complex. Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972 and is the oldest stadium in the AFC. It can hold 76,416 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums in the U.S. and the biggest sports venue in Missouri. The stadium had a big renovation that finished in 2010.

Since March 2021, the stadium has been officially called GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This name comes from a deal with GEHA, a company that provides health benefits. The stadium will also host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where it will be known as Kansas City Stadium for a short time.

History of Arrowhead Stadium

The Kansas City Chiefs football team used to be called the Dallas Texans. When they moved to Kansas City in 1963, they played at Municipal Stadium. They shared this stadium with a baseball team, the Kansas City Athletics.

Municipal Stadium was built in 1923 and could hold about 35,000 football fans. However, new rules for the AFL–NFL merger in 1966 said that NFL stadiums needed to seat at least 50,000 people. This meant Kansas City needed a new, bigger stadium to keep its professional sports teams.

Jackson County offered a good spot for a new sports complex. In 1967, voters approved money to build two new stadiums. The first idea was to have both stadiums under one rolling roof, but this was too difficult and expensive. So, they decided to build two separate open-air stadiums instead.

Building the Stadium

Construction on Arrowhead Stadium began in 1968. The design was first created by architect Charles Deaton and the Chiefs' general manager, Jack Steadman. The football and baseball stadiums look different but share things like parking.

The plans for covered stadiums were dropped, so both became open-air. The upper seating areas were built very steeply to fit more seats into a smaller space. This design was unique and influenced how other NFL stadiums were built later on.

Early Years in the 1970s

Arrowhead Stadium at night, before a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Arrowhead Stadium was ready for the 1972 football season. The first game ever played there was a preseason match on August 12, 1972, where the Chiefs beat the St. Louis Cardinals.

The first regular season game was a loss to the Miami Dolphins. But on November 5, 1972, a huge crowd of 82,094 people watched the Chiefs get their first regular-season win at Arrowhead, beating the Oakland Raiders. This was the largest crowd ever at the stadium.

In 1973, Arrowhead Stadium was the first NFL stadium to add arrows to the yard markers on the field. These arrows pointed towards the closer goal line, helping players and fans know which way to go. This idea became popular and is now used in almost all football stadiums.

Arrowhead Stadium also hosted the Pro Bowl on January 20, 1974. Even though there was an ice storm earlier in the week, the weather cleared up for the game.

Stadium Updates from the 1980s to Today

Patrick Mahomes leading the Chiefs offense against the Cleveland Browns in 2021.

Over the years, Arrowhead Stadium has received many upgrades. In 1991, two large video screens shaped like footballs were installed. In 1994, the artificial turf was replaced with natural grass, making the playing field much better.

More improvements came in 2009 with new high-definition video displays and digital ribbon boards around the stadium. In 2013, the stadium switched to a special type of grass called NorthBridge Bermudagrass, which handles cold weather well.

In 2021, the stadium's name officially changed to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. This was part of a naming rights deal with GEHA.

Arrowhead Stadium is getting ready to host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This means some small changes will be made to the stadium. For example, some seating might be adjusted to fit FIFA's field rules. Plans for bigger renovations were announced in 2024, but they were put on hold when voters did not approve a sales tax to help pay for them.

Loudest Stadium Record

Arrowhead Stadium is known for its incredibly loud fans. In 1990, during a game against the Denver Broncos, the crowd was so loud that the referee threatened the Chiefs with a penalty if they didn't quiet down.

On October 13, 2013, Chiefs fans set a Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium, reaching 137.5 dB. This record was later broken by Seattle Seahawks fans. However, the Chiefs reclaimed the title on September 29, 2014, during a game against the New England Patriots, hitting an amazing 142.2 decibels!

College Football Games

Arrowhead Stadium has hosted many exciting college football games. It was the site for five Big 12 Conference championship games.

From 2007 to 2011, the stadium hosted the "Border War" rivalry games between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Missouri Tigers. The 2007 game, called "Armageddon at Arrowhead," had the second-largest crowd in stadium history, with 80,537 fans watching.

In 2009 and 2010, Arrowhead hosted the "Farmageddon" game, a rivalry between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats. In 2024, the Kansas Jayhawks played four of their home games at Arrowhead Stadium because their own stadium was being renovated.

*Win vacated

Soccer Matches at Arrowhead

The friendly match between the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) and Manchester United F.C., July 2010.

When Major League Soccer started in 1996, Arrowhead Stadium became the home of the Kansas City Wiz, who later became the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City). They played there until 2007.

On July 25, 2010, the Wizards played a friendly match against the famous English team Manchester United at Arrowhead. Many people wanted to see the game, so it was held at the larger Arrowhead Stadium instead of the Wizards' usual home. Kansas City won the game 2-1.

The stadium has also hosted games for the U.S. Men's National Team and the Women's National Team. On April 13, 2024, Sporting Kansas City played Inter Miami at Arrowhead. This game attracted 72,610 fans, making it one of the most attended MLS events ever, largely because of Inter Miami player Lionel Messi.

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Game type	Attendance
October 7, 1999	United States	6–0	Finland	Women's International Friendly	36,405
August 20, 2000	United States	1–1	Canada	Women's International Friendly	21,246
April 25, 2001	United States	1–0	Costa Rica	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF final round	37,319
October 22, 2003	United States	2–2	Italy	Women's International Friendly	18,263
October 16, 2004	United States	1–0	Mexico	Women's International Friendly	20,435
July 25, 2010	Kansas City Wizards	2–1	Manchester United	Club Friendly	52,424
March 31, 2015	Mexico	1–0	Paraguay	International Friendly	38,114
April 13, 2024	Inter Miami CF	3–2	Sporting Kansas City	2024 MLS season	72,610
July 1, 2024	Uruguay	1–0	United States	2024 Copa América Group C	55,460

2026 FIFA World Cup Games

Arrowhead in May 2025 undergoing prep for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Arrowhead Stadium was chosen as one of the 16 places to host games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This big soccer tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The stadium will need some changes to meet FIFA's rules for soccer fields. Kansas City's mayor estimated these changes would cost about $50 million. Arrowhead will host six World Cup matches, including four group stage games, one Round of 32 game, and one quarterfinal game.

Stadium Renovations

One of the entrances to the stadium.

Rear view of the stadium

In 2006, voters in Jackson County approved a tax increase to help pay for $850 million in renovations. This money was for both Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium. Because of this, the Chiefs signed a new agreement to stay at Arrowhead until at least 2031.

A plan to build a rolling roof that would cover both stadiums was not approved by voters. Because of this, Kansas City decided not to try to host the Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

On August 15, 2007, the Chiefs announced the final plans for the renovated Arrowhead Stadium. These renovations cost $375 million. The updated stadium now includes the Chiefs Hall of Honor, which celebrates the team's history. It also has special "horizon level" seating for luxury suites.

The major renovation work started in October 2007. Both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums were fully updated and ready for games by the 2010 season.

In 2019, the Chiefs announced more renovations for the 2020 season. These included replacing seats in the lower level, adding a new video display, and upgrading the locker rooms.

In February 2024, the Chiefs shared plans for even more renovations starting in 2027. These plans would have added more seats and other upgrades. However, these plans were stopped in April 2024 when voters did not approve a sales tax increase to fund the project. The Chiefs are now looking at other options, including possibly building a new stadium.

Stadium Music and Events

For many years, from 1963 to 2008, the TD Pack Band played at every Chiefs home game. The band was started by trumpet player Tony DiPardo, who was known as "Mr. Music." He even wrote songs about the team.

Arrowhead Stadium has also hosted big music concerts. On September 8, 2018, Taylor Swift performed a show from her Reputation Stadium Tour. She returned for two nights of her famous Eras Tour on July 7–8, 2023.

See also

In Spanish: Arrowhead Stadium para niños

• Lists of stadiums