Chiefs’ Hunt prefers Arrowhead renovation over new stadium

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt used to inform his son, Clark, that his favourite place on the planet was Arrowhead Stadium.

If it is as much as the present chairman, the membership can be there lengthy into the long run.

Throughout his annual journey to coaching camp, Clark Hunt mentioned Friday that the desire of the Chiefs is to renovate the getting older facility east of downtown Kansas Metropolis relatively than construct a brand new stadium. However that can depend upon quite a few research which might be analyzing the structural integrity of a constructing celebrating its opening 50 years in the past this season.

“That might be our No. 1 precedence,” Hunt mentioned. “We will consider all choices, clearly. Now we have to determine what’s finest for the franchise, what’s finest for the fan base. Nevertheless it begins with evaluating Arrowhead and that is the place we’re at.”

The Chiefs have shared the Truman Sports activities Complicated with the Kansas Metropolis Royals because the early Nineteen Seventies, and every of their amenities has gone by way of intensive renovations financed partially by Jackson County taxpayers. However underneath the brand new possession of John Sherman, the Royals seem like leaning towards leaving the enlargement of concrete parking heaps for a downtown website close to public transportation and eating places, buying and leisure choices.

Their stadium leases final by way of the 2030-31 seasons, and meaning each might want to decide their subsequent step within the subsequent two years. That might give them sufficient time to safe financing together with formulating plans and development.

Arrowhead already is because of have minor renovations starting in 2025 for the World Cup the next 12 months. Whereas a few of these figures to be beauty upgrades, the bulk need to do with seating preparations within the corners of the stadium, the place more room can be wanted to suit a world soccer pitch.

In an ideal world, Hunt mentioned, these can be the beginning of long-term renovations for the third-oldest NFL stadium in use.

“We’re very hopeful we’ll have the ability to renovate Arrowhead Stadium when the time comes,” he mentioned, “however we’re in all probability nonetheless a year-plus from with the ability to make that willpower. What I’ve realized by way of the method is it is not a quite simple reply whenever you’re making an attempt to find out whether or not a constructing can go one other 25 or 30 years beginning eight years from now.”

The way forward for Arrowhead can be decided simply because the Chicago Bears determine whether or not to go away Soldier Area, which opened in 1924 and is the league’s oldest stadium. The franchise signed a purchase order settlement final 12 months for the 326-acre website of the previous Arlington Park horse racing observe, which is about 30 miles northwest of their present stadium, leaving officers in Chicago to discover plans to surround Soldier Area in a bid to maintain the crew close to the lakefront.

Among the many points of interest for the Bears, whose lease of Soldier Area runs by way of 2033, in shifting to a brand new stadium is the flexibility to personal all of the income it produces, together with potential revenue from different business improvement.

In contrast, Soldier Area is owned by the Chicago Park District, which limits the monetary upside for the franchise.

The one different stadium older than Arrowhead is Lambeau Area, the place the Inexperienced Bay Packers have performed since 1957.

That does not seem like a problem for Hunt, whose household has owned the franchise since Lamar Hunt based it in 1959 and moved from Dallas to Kansas Metropolis in 1963. They cherish the historical past of Arrowhead together with its setting, which can lack for public transportation however makes up for with huge parking heaps for a few of the league’s finest tailgating.

That evidently outweighs no matter income that would include a brand new stadium on property owned by the Chiefs.

“We’re being very methodical (with planning),” Hunt mentioned. “We wish to get to the best reply as a result of it is essential.”

NOTES: DE Carlos Dunlap, who signed a one-year deal Thursday, is not going to arrive till subsequent Wednesday due to some private issues he’s wrapping up. “He is been round. He is aware of what he is on the lookout for,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “He appreciated what he noticed and we appreciated what we noticed and we signed him up.” … FS Justin Reid participated totally in observe after getting shaken up Thursday. … The Chiefs observe once more Saturday earlier than getting the break day Sunday. Their first padded observe of coaching camp is scheduled for Monday.

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