Arrowhead Stadium
| Arrowhead Stadium The Home of the CHIEFS! | |
| Facility Statistics | |
| Location | 1 Arrowhead Drive Kansas City, Missouri 64129 |
| Broke Ground | July 11, 1968 |
| Opened | August 12, 1972 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Owner | Jackson County Sports Complex Authority |
| Manager | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Construction Cost | $43 million USD |
| Architect | Kivett and Myers |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1972-present |
| Kansas City Wizards | 1996-present |
| Seating Capacity | |
| 2003 | 79,101 |
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards. It is part of the city's Truman Sports Complex (together with Kauffman Stadium).
History
A $102 million voter-approved sports complex bond issue in 1967 stated that a plan originally for a single, multi-purpose, domed stadium (it would have been the world's first rolling stadium roof), but this was later discarded (due to conflicting design elements, seating capacity concerns, prohibitive costs, and project delays). Officials then decided to construct two stadiums, one for baseball (originally for the Kansas City Athletics, later for the Kansas City Royals) and another for football. The two-stadium complex concept was the first of its kind. The Chiefs staff, led by Jack Steadman, helped develop the complex. Construction began in 1968.
Arrowhead was completed for the 1972 season. On August 12, 1972, Arrowhead Stadium became the home of the Chiefs after Municipal Stadium was abandoned in 1971. The Chiefs first game at Arrowhead Stadium was against the Cardinals (Chiefs 24, St. Louis Cardinals 14).
In 1984, the Jackson County Sports Authority re-evaluated the concept of a dome (a fabric one). The concept was disreguarded as being unnecessary and financially impractical. In 1991, a JumboTron screen was installed. In 1994 other improvements were made and a grass playing surface was installed, replacing the original artificial turf.
With the formation of the Major League Soccer in 1996, Arrowhead became home to the Kansas City Wizards.
Other facts
Arrowhead is the National Football League's loudest stadium.
Arrowhead has a consecutive sell-out record of 100 times (dating to the opener in 1990). [ed. as of 2002]
The largest crowd to see a game in Arrowhead Stadium is 82,094 (vs. Oakland Raiders; November 4, 1972).
Quotes
- "[Arrowhead is] the most revolutionary, futuristic, sports complex I have ever seen." - George Halas
- "It took courage to sell the citizens of Kansas City on the twin park plan. But they bought it because they want the best." - Hal Lebovitz