Populous is reimagining Arrowhead Stadium for Kansas City Chiefs

Lower than one month after its second-consecutive Tremendous Bowl win, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs officers have launched plans for a significant renovation of GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium. The sports activities staff didn’t must look far for an structure staff able to revamping their dwelling turf: they turned to Kansas Metropolis–primarily based Populous.

Arrowhead Stadium was accomplished in 1972 by architect Charles Deaton and Kivett & Myers, a neighborhood agency. This newest renovation, slated to price upward of $800 million will heart on bettering circulation, including new facilities, and xreating new pedestrian areas. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs proprietor Mike Hunt has pledged $300 million in non-public cash for the venture, and pending an upcoming vote, the remaining $500 million could also be financed by Missouri tax payers.

Populous’s present scheme delivers new pedestrian areas all through the Truman Sports activities Advanced, a vacation spot the Chiefs share with the Kansas Metropolis Royals—who lately unveiled plans for a shiny new stadium. A turf-covered Activation Zone with devoted tailgate areas and a coated leisure area will probably be added to the location pending the demolition of the Royal’s Kauffman Stadium. Metropolis officers are at the moment working with the skilled sports activities franchises on a deal to facilitate the transaction. The Royals are eying a web site in downtown Kansas Metropolis near the T-Cell Heart and the Energy & Gentle District for his or her new ballpark.

Whereas town and franchise welcome the change, the proposed renovation has been met with blended opinions by the general public, a few of that are uncertain in regards to the want for the huge “leisure area” proposed for the location. Native enterprise house owners who rely on the foot visitors that Truman Sports activities Advanced delivers have been hoping to see bars, eating places, and accommodations within the proposal, very like what different cities across the nation are doing within the neighborhood of their stadiums.

In response to criticism from native enterprise house owners in regards to the absence of non-game day programming, Chiefs President Mike Donovan mentioned that, after operating a feasibility examine, an leisure district within the space merely wouldn’t yield a adequate ROI. “As harsh as that sounds, it’s simply the truth from a enterprise standpoint,” Donovan instructed native reporters.

The redesign by Populous reveals a devoted ridesharing zone, new parking deck to the stadium’s south, and an expanded parking space to the north, the place Kauffman Stadium is immediately.

It additionally provides new Higher Concourse with a 360-degree connection bridge that wraps across the stadium. It additionally exhibits a cover replete with infrared heaters and overhead followers to offer year-round consolation. Upon completion, Arrowhead Stadium’s present jumbotron will probably be swapped out with new video boards. Populous has additionally specified new LED ribbon boards that hug the higher concourses.

On area, visiting groups could have new area entry factors nearer to their locker rooms. This new circulation path will quicken arrange time for main concert events and different particular occasions. Current, conventional concession stands, the place followers typically stand idly in line will probably be changed with Seize-n-Go markets. This can lead to an elevated velocity of service by as much as 40 p.c, and transaction time will lower.

New VIP stadium entry factors will probably be inserted into the stadium into new Finish Zone Golf equipment and Suites, very like what the L.A. Raiders have immediately. This may lower fan visitors and congestion at present basic admission gates, the Chiefs mentioned.