Truman Sports Complex

Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri, as seen before expansive renovations in the late 2000s; Arrowhead Stadium is to the left and Kauffman Stadium is to the right.

The Harry S Truman Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.. It is home to two major sports venues- Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, and Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals. The complex also hosts various other events during the year, such as the annual Border Showdown football game.

Description

The Truman Sports Complex was built and owned by the government of Jackson County and managed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority which is a state of Missouri agency. The current complex design, by Charles Deaton, was arrived at when Deaton caught the ear of Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Jack Steadman and suggested building side-by-side stadiums for the two sports with each stadium customized to its needs. and called for separate side-by-side stadiums with a mutual rolling roof. However, the roof was never built due to cost. The complex was revolutionary in an age when stadiums were built as big multiuse venues. The design established the reputation of the design architect Charles Deaton and the architects that implemented his plans, Kivett and Myers.

In 1975 the firm merged with Kansas City architect firm HNTB and went on to design stadiums including Giants Stadium, RCA Dome, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and Ralph Wilson Stadium. In 1983, several HNTB architects were hired by St. Louis-based architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, forming what would later become Populous and opening their primary office in Kansas City.

Kansas City began a project to renovate both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums in 2007 following the passage of a 3/8-cent sales tax increase in a referendum in 2006. Improvements to Kauffman Stadium were finished in time for MLB Opening Day 2009, and Arrowhead Stadium was completed in time for NFL Opening Day 2010. A separate tax referendum to raise funds to finally build the rolling roof failed. Both stadiums are being renovated by Populous.

With renovations both the Royals and Chiefs have leases on the stadiums through January 31, 2031. Their previous lease which was renegotiated in 1990 had been set to expire January 31, 2015.

Arrowhead Stadium

Main article: Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead Stadium.

Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, opened in the fall of 1972. George Halas called Arrowhead "the most revolutionary, futuristic sports complex I have ever seen." Fans occasionally refer to the stadium as The Sea of Red or simply Arrowhead. The stadium is commonly referred to as the "Home of the CHIEFS" at the beginning of every home game. Arrowhead has long held a reputation for being one of, if not the, loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL due to the exuberance of the Chiefs' fans.

Kauffman Stadium

Main article: Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals, opened in spring 1973 as Royals Stadium and is located adjacent to Arrowhead. The stadium's name was changed in 1993 to honor Royals founder Ewing Kauffman just months before his death. Although the stadium is less than 40 years old, it is the sixth-oldest stadium in MLB, as a result of the construction of a number of new stadiums in the 1990s. It was the only baseball-specific stadium completed from the early 1960s until the early 1990s. (See List of Major League Baseball stadiums.)

References

• P1, General Collection, Sports Complex--Truman, Number 1, kclibrary.org; Photograph 6409.
• Floodplain — Truman Sports Complex, Kansas City, Missouri
• Truman Sports Complex, flickr.com

External links

• Map: 39°03′00″N 94°28′56″W