New Chiefs Stadium

[shinatoo]

The advantage of the rolling roof is being able to leave it open so grass can grow, so closing it the day before or the morning of the game is a non-issue. There are five retractable roof stadiums in the NFL and six in MLB and I don't know that any of them have ongoing issues with operation.

If Arrowhead modifies their field for the World Cup there is no reason they couldn't go back to artificial turf. It's light years ahead of where it was even 5 years ago. That would open up the stadium to many more dates for football and soccer. Add a roof and you can start having more concerts and conventions. Which is something else we haven't addressed, TSC, with the royals gone, would be a great location to begin building out a proper-sized convention center.

[Major KC Fan]

The last thing we need is a massive convention center away from downtown & all of the convention related businesses that support it. You won’t find one downtown hotel, business etc. that wants to create that kind of distance between them and conventioneers.

[dukuboy1]

plus they need to add a retractable roof system so they can bid for a Super Bowl, Final Four, etc. Adding the roof element will add more revenue opportunities for sure and the ability to host major indoor sporting events, on the National scale.

Sacrifices come with a permanent roof, like fly-overs. A fully enclosed structure is a bad idea imho and will be massive cost. Once you go from outdoor stadium to indoor, things like fire suppression, HVAC etc come into play.

A roof system like Sofi could be cool where it’s technically still a open-air stadium but protected from rain, sun and snow.

You are aware that an open air rolling roof has been in the cards for Arrowhead since before day 1.. correct?

Yes I am very aware, thank you. This however would not be a rolling roof between 2 stadiums as one of them would be downtown in this hypothetical discussion. I was looking at the options you have to accomplish knowing you are engineering, designing, building it to serve one stadium, not 2. I figured there may be some advantages

[dukuboy1]

The last thing we need is a massive convention center away from downtown & all of the convention related businesses that support it. You won’t find one downtown hotel, business etc. that wants to create that kind of distance between them and conventioneers.

Yes there is distance but we have already had things like the MLB All Star game, a Big 12 Championship Football game, etc. hosted at the TSC with major fans events and such being downtown.

For the record, I enjoy the open air stadium for Chiefs games. Arrowhead is a great place to watch the games. But honestly I'm 48 yrs old and if I go to a Chiefs game it is from a business or business relationship invite. I'm on the Club Level, with access to some kind of corporate party tent before the game. I get there via Uber or with whomever invited me with a parking pass. I'm not bragging, just mentioning that I'm a big fan of comfort at this stage in my life. So anything we can do to promote a better designed stadium to enhance or increase the comfort for everyone I'm all for.

I'm not passionate about flyovers, fireworks, or whatever else dog & pony show needs to happen prior to kick off. If you like that, awesome, you do you and I'm not here to say otherwise. Just sharing my opinion.

I maybe go to 1 game a year if that. I much more enjoy getting together with friends to watch the game someplace then heading out to Arrowhead (GEHA whatever). I'm more interested in the discussion of what could be and how that could ultimately benefit the city and Metro as a whole and bring more events to the city and being not only a regional centerpiece but one that can host national events as well.

If a newly designed stadium with a roof is a pipedream, then end of discussion I guess. Maybe a new stadium is worth it? IDK

[Link2]

The advantage of the rolling roof is being able to leave it open so grass can grow, so closing it the day before or the morning of the game is a non-issue. There are five retractable roof stadiums in the NFL and six in MLB and I don't know that any of them have ongoing issues with operation.

If Arrowhead modifies their field for the World Cup there is no reason they couldn't go back to artificial turf. It's light years ahead of where it was even 5 years ago. That would open up the stadium to many more dates for football and soccer. Add a roof and you can start having more concerts and conventions. Which is something else we haven't addressed, TSC, with the royals gone, would be a great location to begin building out a proper-sized convention center.

With the investment downtown (arena, streetcar, hotels, P&L, etc.) the idea of placing a new convention center that far away is illogical. The infrastructure needed to support a functioning convention center -- along with all the amenities/facilities convention attendees expect to be nearby -- make that idea just completely untenable.

[alejandro46]

I wonder if it would be feasible to build a modern-style retractable roof on Arrowhead. Structurally (as NOT an engineer), I doubt it would work without rebuilding most of the stands, as those 40 year old concrete pylons are not designed to support the longitudinal stress of a roof. (Seahawks stadium's roof weighs 5,200 tons for example). However, maybe it would still be cheaper than building a new stadium ground up.

[normalthings]

The last thing we need is a massive convention center away from downtown & all of the convention related businesses that support it. You won’t find one downtown hotel, business etc. that wants to create that kind of distance between them and conventioneers.

I would not doubt if KCK tried to build one at Village West at some point

[AlkaliAxel]

The best way to beat KCK is to keep investing all the assets we can in downtown or atleast the urban core because they can’t compete with that.

[dukuboy1]

Well if KCK has leaders who can push forward developments can fault them for that.

I do not go to Village West very often at all. Sometimes to shop a few clothing stores at the outlets, and Nebraska Furniture Mall is good for those home good items.

Otherwise it would be a Sporting or Monarchs' game and that would be maybe 1-2 games per year per Team. Usually it is an in an out trip for the game, not going out before or after.

I've been to one NASCAR race and one Indy race there. Both fun and happy to say I went but they are not really my jam. I've been to the Casino to their big bar inside (1-2 times) but never gambled there.

So they do alright out there but I live closer to the main downtown and south core of the city and that is where I spend most of my entertainment time. Even with the kids

I don't worry to much about KCK and that area being a huge drain on development and amenities to downtown, but maybe I'm looking at it through a different lens.

[DColeKC]

I wonder if it would be feasible to build a modern-style retractable roof on Arrowhead. Structurally (as NOT an engineer), I doubt it would work without rebuilding most of the stands, as those 40 year old concrete pylons are not designed to support the longitudinal stress of a roof. (Seahawks stadium's roof weighs 5,200 tons for example). However, maybe it would still be cheaper than building a new stadium ground up.

For sure possible. Look at AT&T stadium for an example of how this could be engineered. The two massive arched trusses handle most of the weight. This is what I envision the future of arrowhead to be. Essentially two huge arched trusses that free-span over the stadium to accommodate LED screens and audio equipment. Well, that’s my dream version of a futurist Arrowhead.

[Rusty Irish]

The best way to beat KCK is to keep investing all the assets we can in downtown or atleast the urban core because they can’t compete with that.

Agreed. If it comes down to Village West v TSC if the Royals move Downtown I see a real struggle for Missouri. If it comes down to the KCMO Urban Core v Village West (Or JoCo etc) then I think Missouri has a fighters chance.

[AlkaliAxel]

Virginia Commanders stadium dead for now.

Well, atleast we’re not the only city that can’t get council support.
https://frontofficesports.com/passage-o ... -unlikely/

[alejandro46]

We should look at what the Pats did in Foxborough. Patriot Place has been somewhat of a success. Bass Pro, Hotels, restaurants, etc. built with private financing.

https://sbj.net/stories/bass-pro-shops- ... ment,31808?

While you might think Gillette Stadium is the main draw for these major New England cities, it only attracts about four million people per year. Earley says, comparatively, Patriot Place brings in more than nine million people per year. And just like the current set in Orchard Park, all 1.3 million square feet of Patriot Place were previously parking lots for the old Foxboro Stadium.

It’s worth noting, Patriot Place is one of the only large shopping/lifestyle centers around Foxborough. While the corner of Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard are in very close proximity to two, the McKinley Mall and Quakers Crossing.

“You know prior to Patriot Place, there was really not a reason to come down Route 1 in Foxborough during the offseason,” said Earley.

Randy Scollins the former Finance Director for the Town of Foxborough helped renegotiate the town's Gillette Stadium deal and one for Patriot Place in 2005.

“It's not just an event-based operation up there it's commercial activity 365 days a year they're constantly active,” Scollins said.

Instead of property taxes, Foxborough gets a portion of revenue from ticket sales at the stadium, and taxes for hotel occupancy. Foxborough has dramatically benefitted from Patriot Place Scollins said and continues to do so as the Kraft Group expands. He believes a similar, or scaled-back development could have the same impact in a place like Orchard Park.

“You know any responsible town leadership whether it be elected leadership or the paid leadership in the town for not looking after economic development we're not doing our job,” said Scollins.

“If you were to look at the previous stadium versus what it is now, it's as different as night and day… a multi-purpose complex that can be well used and generate some significant revenue for the town,” said Foxborough Manager William Keegan.

The tax revenue generated at Patriot Place, between $8 million and $10 million, accounts for about 10% of Foxboro's yearly budget Keegan said. Whether that same benefit could be seen in Orchard Park Keegan says will depend on what's built and what vision developers have for the space.

Talk of a "Bills Place" near Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard has largely come from town and county leadership. 2 On Your Side has previously spoken to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Orchard Park Town Supervisor Gene Majchrzak, and Hamburg Town Supervisor Randy Hoak about the possibility of development, but only in vague terms. In Foxborough, Scollins said the Patriot Place discussion was almost entirely driven by Patriots’ ownership.

In April, a representative for Bills ownership, Pegula Sports and Entertainment was asked about additional development by the Erie County Legislature, which is set to approve their $250 million chunk to fund the stadium project in the coming weeks.

“Do the Bills plan on building any additional buildings around similar to something like in New England?” asked Erie County Legislator Christopher Greene.

“First, we aren't developers, we will certainly support any developer who wants to come in and enhance the experience and the economy in WNY,” responded Ron Raccuia, Executive Vice President of Pegula Sports and Entertainment.

The stadium study contracted by New York State projected "little to no ancillary development" in Orchard Park but also stated, "this could change through concerted policy efforts by the municipality, county, state, and the team…"

With those parties seemingly bound to lead an effort like Foxborough, Scollins and Earley said success in WNY, will depend on planning everything far ahead of time; after all, it took seven years to map out Gillette Stadium construction and Patriot Place combined.

“The whole zoning aspect is key so that table needs to be set but as far as other pieces, community engagement, you know it's easy to say and easy to overlook,” said Scollins.

He added, “there's a lot of middle ground you know things that would benefit the developer that the town can provide and things that will benefit the town and that the developer can provide."

“There's never enough time in the development pipeline. So if there are thoughts about doing this, it has to be done in parallel to what's happening with the stadium,” Patriot Place Brian Earley said.

[DColeKC]

Had some beers with someone who is a good inside source. His comment was we will have a baseball stadium open by 2026 in East Village and a new football stadium at TSC shortly after.

He is a trusted source in regards to the Royals, but I'm not sure how connected he is with the Chiefs.

[earthling]

^Might trust that information if no tax vote involved and mostly privately financed but otherwise less likely if involving a public vote in this era of inflation and many prefer Royals at TSC. And that could be possible with no direct public tax hit. Hard to pull off but does seem possible. And I'm hearing this attempt from many angles now. TIF/Bonds don't require a vote and possible State help w/out a vote, not sure - probably depends on how State aid would be structured. The more investors involved and broader multi-use, the higher chance of high % private funding. Hope to see Cordish part of the picture.

[kboish]

I think a straight renewal of existing tax could pass if that is the only public contribution. It wouldn’t surprise me if they also asked for TIF for the development.

[AlkaliAxel]

Had some beers with someone who is a good inside source. His comment was we will have a baseball stadium open by 2026 in East Village and a new football stadium at TSC shortly after.

He is a trusted source in regards to the Royals, but I'm not sure how connected he is with the Chiefs.

Based on everything I've been seeing and hearing that's about where I'm at as well.

I think Chiefs are gonna stay in MO. The real question is *what* they want to do with TSC..

[aknowledgeableperson]

"and possible State help w/out a vote, not sure - probably depends on how State aid would be structured."
I wouldn't expect any state aid that would exceed what the Cardinals get in St. Louis

"I think a straight renewal of existing tax could pass if that is the only public contribution."
The existing tax for the stadiums is a county tax for both stadiums. Seriously doubt the residents of the county would approve a vote for a downtown baseball stadium.

[earthling]

If it goes to a vote at all, it may not pass anyway given many don't want Royals to move from TSC, especially East Jack and probably much of S Jack. And the existing tax is for maintenance. If used for new construction more may be asked for maintenance as well.

With the apparent confidence that insiders think this will happen soon, they must not be relying on a vote. That would seem to mean very high % of private financing and some TIF and/or State aid.

[aknowledgeableperson]

"And the existing tax is for maintenance. If used for new construction more may be asked for maintenance as well."

Thought the county sales tax is being used to retire the bonds issued for for the stadium improvements so both teams extended their leases to 2030.