Arrowhead Stadium - The Most Unique Stadium in the NFL

Arrowhead Stadium - The Most Unique Stadium in the NFL

Arrowhead stadium is the iconic home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Ground was broken for the stadium complex on July 11, 1968 with Arrowhead finally opening on August 12, 1972, making it the third oldest currently used NFL stadium after Soldier Field and Lambeau Field.

The history of Arrowhead Stadium dates back to a 1967 bond that was issued to the tune of $102 million dollars. The original plan for the complex called for the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs to have two side by side stadiums with a shared roof, and other utility areas under the stadium. The common roof between the stadium would have been incredibly innovative, but ultimately proved to be too costly. The idea was scrapped, leading both stadiums to be open air.

In addition to the innovative shared roof idea, team owner Lamar Hunt also requested an extensive owner’s suite be built into the stadium. The suite was built with three bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. The feature is incredibly unique, and remains at the stadium to this day. Other unique design aspects include the upper bowl of the stadium being placed at a steep incline to increase seating. Although the feature increased seating at the stadium, it limited access for those with disabilities and could not be replicated at modern NFL stadiums due to new regulations.

The stadium’s design remained unchanged for nearly two decades, although in 1984 a study was introduced to see if a fabric dome could be placed over the stadium. The concept was thrown out as it was deemed too expensive. No further renovations were done until 1991 when two screens shaped as footballs were added to both end zones of the facility. Natural grass eventually replaced the astro turf in 1994.

By 2006 Arrowhead Stadium was beginning to show its age, so a new $850 million dollar bond was approved to finance renovations for both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium. In part due to the renovations, the NFL awarded Kansas City the right to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, with the caveat that a permanent roof be installed on the stadium. Studies again showed that the roof would not be feasible, and the plan to host the Super Bowl was dropped.

Additional renovations at the stadium including updating the video boards, a new Chiefs Hall of Honor, and additional luxury seating were added. The stadium’s renovations were completed in time for the 2010 season. Further renovations were undertaken in 2019 with the aging seats in the lower bowl replaced. Renovations to the locker room had to be put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arrowhead Stadium continues to be an iconic and beloved NFL venue nearly 50 years after its grand opening.

[jaycepero]

During the playoffs I told my wife to look at Arrowhead when they showed an exterior shot on tv. I told her how beautiful and unique it is, and how it feels retro and new all at the same time. Simply put, it’s a work of art.

[rkid]

Lifelong Broncos fan but I’ve always loved this stadium. Pure football atmosphere. When they switched it grass, it looked even better. Class.

[dtc]

I absolutely love this place. It takes my breath away every time I walk out the tunnel to the seats. I was there for the AFC Championship game against the Titans, nothing like celebrating with 76000 of your closest friends.

[bryanjensen]

Drove by on a road trip when I was 8 in 1983. Was amazed.

[mamaluigi]

This is what happens when you build a premium high-end stadium dedicated to one sport from the get-go You get a quality legendary venue That can simply be renovated for years to come unlike the cookie cutter dual purpose stadiums built at the same time

[frankdatank]

The most unique thing about Arrowhead (and Kaufman stadium next door for the royals) is when they were built them they built 2 separate stadiums!! They were built as a 1 sport stadium right next to each other! At the time everything being built was that cookie cutter 1 stadium dual purpose crap like RFK veterans stadium San Diego etc. I think I saw somewhere the Kansas City stadiums were the only non dual purpose stadiums built in a 20 year span (it might have been just for MLB stadiums can’t remember). Everything else built being built and designed was dual. The Chiefs and Royals went against that trend which is why their houses are loved to this day and still stand being used today while pretty much every dual purpose stadium built in the 60s and 70s is long gone, about to be gone or sitting unused falling apart. I think the only one being used is Oakland and it’s about done. If the city wasn’t broke that place would have been replaced 20 years ago. Heck the royals released a statement last year that they are looking at building a new one downtown to add shopping and bars (stupid I know) and the city went nuts they were pissed they do not want Kauffman Stadium to ever go away. I don’t think people cared one bit about places like RFK and if the A’s made that kind of statement today saying they building new for sure the fans of Oakland would cheer in excitement at the thought of the hated Colosseum going bye bye. Kansas City never gets the credit it deserves for what they did back in the 60s going against what was cool hip and cheaper at the time. Kemper was cool as well. Anyway

[USSRofficial-Moscow]

One of my school feild trips was actually a tour of this stadium truly a work of art

[jpthompson]

No stadium ever has or ever will have as perfect of sightlines as Arrowhead.

[ronbrown]

Lambeau field is the oldest. Soldier field was geared down. They kept a little of of the remnants of the old, but it was a whole new stadium

[jamespyle]

Being from the Ozarks and being at a game there in the upper deck felt like looking down into a giant sinkhole

[gtrpkr]

The cool thing about it is in 1970 when it was being designed it wasn’t designed to be loud.
It just happened to be LOUD.
Probably just a coincidence that it was.

[wonky]

The reason it did not get a roof in 2006 is because the voters did not approve. There was two ballot measures, one to upgrade the stadiums and one to put on the rolling roof. The voters only approved the upgrades. Please correct this.

[eric_d]

Life-long Seahawks fan, have always been a huge fan of these stadiums (Arrowhead and Kauffman). I hope they don't relocate to a new facility.

[banman]

Great Video. How about the history of Kauffman Stadium next door?

[bdautch]

It's unusual that the sun shines almost vertically up and down the field; it is more customary for the sun to shine laterally across the field instead.

[kansascityonline]

indeed - I learned a few things that I did not know.. .. thanks! short n sweet...

[judiatetruthkinggg]

If Soldier Field would get $2.2B renovation$; why not arrow head $tadium Getting Major Renovation$?!

[georgeford]

For years I thought what a stadium, only if they would get rid of the Astroturf, thank god they did.

[greekfreak]

That’s why they won’t build another stadium, it’s a whole house in the stadium 😂

[gregsells]

Was the original scoreboard based on the logo for Standard/Amoco, which was its sole sponsor?