AFL Origins - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000 to present

The Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals played the inaugural game at Arrowhead Stadium on August 12, 1972. Since that initial contest, much has changed at the Truman Sports Complex. On April 4, 2006 Jackson County, Missouri taxpayers approved a 3/8 cent sales tax that is expected to raise $425 million for improvements to the Sports Complex, including $325 million for Arrowhead. In addition, the Chiefs will contribute $75 million to the project which is currently slated to begin in January of 2007. These improvements are expected to help maintain Arrowhead’s longstanding status as one of the nation’s top venues for fans to experience the excitement of collegiate or NFL football.

 - Arrowhead capacity during the 2008 season will be 77,038

While other venues of a similar vintage have long since been termed obsolete, thanks to the foresight and vision of the leadership of Jackson County, the Chiefs staff led by Jack Steadman who helped develop the complex, and the taxpayers who made it a reality, Arrowhead has indeed, stood the test of time.

At the time of its dedication in ‘72, the legendary founder of the Chicago Bears, George Halas called Arrowhead, “the most revolutionary, futuristic, sports complex I have ever seen.” Hal Lebovitz, Sports Editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer added, “It took courage to sell the citizens of Kansas  City on the twin park plan. But they bought it because they want the best.”

In the late ‘60s, after design and seating capacity concerns caused plans for a single, multi-purpose domed stadium to be scrapped, Kansas City opted to construct two separate stadiums, one for football and one for baseball. Voters approved the Sports Complex bond issue in ‘67, which included plans for a revolutionary concept – the world’s first rolling stadium roof (pictured below). Construction cost overruns and project delays caused by a lengthy strike eventually forced the roof concept to be put on hold, but Arrowhead was completed in time for the ‘72 season.

In ‘84, the Jackson County Sports Authority again investigated the feasibility of a dome - this time made of fabric - but that concept too was shelved as being unnecessary and financially impractical.

A decade later, in ‘94, under Arrowhead’s continued open-air arrangement, a natural playing surface was installed in the facility for the first time, just one of numerous improvements which have been made under the direction of Chiefs President, General Manager and CEO Carl Peterson. In ‘99 all 33,975 seats in the upper level of the stadium were replaced, while all 35,277 lower level seats and all 10,199 club level seats were replaced for the 2000 season.

Undoubtedly one of the finest facilities in the NFL, Arrowhead and the fans who consistently fill it (125 consecutive sellouts) have helped produce a distinct homefield advantage for the Chiefs. During the ‘90s, no NFLteam had a better regular season home winning percentage than Kansas City, which produced a 65-15 (.813) record over from ‘90-99. Nearly 40 years since the first plans were being devised for Kansas City’s unique two stadium setup, other metropolitan areas are, only now, in the process of attempting to construct similar facilities.

During the 30th Anniversary season of Arrowhead in 2001, Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt, expressed the organiza-tion’s thanks to Colorado-based architect, the late Charles Deaton, who conceived the two-stadium concept. Hunt praised the governmental bodies who took the initiative, and the workers who built Arrowhead, as well as the support of the Jackson  County tax-payers who financed this futuristic venture. Hunt also wished to extend
 on behalf of the entire the Chiefs organization a hearty salute to all who have unquestionably made Arrowhead Stadium - The Home of the … CHIEFS!

AFL Origins - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000 to present

Related links:
Chiefs Hall of Fame
All-Time Roster