NFL Awards Super Bowl To K.C. Contingent On New Stadium Roof

The NFL has awarded K.C. one Super Bowl over a ten-year period, “contingent on the Chiefs getting a rolling roof ... as part of a renovated and expanded Arrowhead Stadium,” according to Randy Covitz of the K.C. STAR. The “most likely dates would be” 2015 or 2017. The Chiefs and Royals are negotiating with Jackson County (MO) for improvements to Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums and have been seeking about $465M in public money. A referendum, “likely for three-eighths of a cent sales tax increase for at least 25 years, would fund most of the work.” Chiefs Chair Clark Hunt said that the roof could raise the total of the project “by anywhere from [$100-200M]” (KANSASCITY.com, 11/16). Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt, on hosting the Super Bowl: “I think a one-off is a correct decision. My request was for one game, in a 10-year window” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/17).

Arrowhead Stadium’s Super Bowl Date Contingent On Renovation, Roof

ROLLING ALONG: The Chiefs also believe the roof “would attract” an NCAA men’s basketball Final Four “and other NCAA events.” Hunt: “It’s more than one Super Bowl. It’s to assure mid-America and the Chiefs and this community they have a stadium that is state-of-the-art for the next 25 to 30 years.” Jackson County Sports Complex Authority Chair Mike Smith said a Super Bowl “adds a huge amount of sizzle to the whole deal.” K.C. Mayor Kay Barnes added, “This announcement gives greater impetus to the effort by Jackson County to finalize negotiations with both the Chiefs and Royals so that county residents can vote for a major renovation of the Truman Sports Complex.” But K.C. Council member John Fairfield and Downtown Council Chair Jon Copaken “reiterated that a downtown ballpark would be in the city’s best interest.” Copaken said that the Chiefs “could get a renovated Arrowhead with a stationary roof while the Royals get the new downtown ballpark.” Royals President Dan Glass said that the Royals are “not in favor of the roof, citing it as ‘not cost-effective.’” Glass: “I just don’t want to jeopardize the long-term solutions to keeping the Royals in [K.C.]. ... Let’s get the stadiums renovated and secure the two teams for the long term. Then we can work on those other amenities” (K.C. STAR, 11/17).