ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs hope to make “some significant progress” on determining their future home after the lease for Arrowhead Stadium expires in January 2031 and club chairman and CEO Clark Hunt on Monday made it clear remaining in metropolitan Kansas City is the primary objective.
“We have a special connection with the community and with the Chiefs kingdom. And our focus is very much on finding a solution here in the metropolitan area,” Hunt said during his annual training camp news conference on the campus of Missouri Western State University.
Jackson County voters in April rejected the extension of a 3/8-cent sales tax that would have contributed to remodeled Arrowhead Stadium and a new ballpark for the Kansas City Royals.
The Chiefs have now expanded their options beyond remaining in their home for the past 52 seasons, including a potential move to the Kansas side of the state line where the legislature has approved a bond proposal that would allow the state to fund up to 70% of the cost of a new stadium for the Chiefs. But Hunt hasn’t closed the door on remaining in Missouri or in Arrowhead Stadium.
“We’re glad to have some options, we really appreciate what the Kansas legislature did in passing the upgrade to the star bond bill that potentially would give us an opportunity to look at a stadium over there,” Hunt said.
“And we’re going to work very hard over the coming months and years to come up with a solution that makes sense for the organization, for the team, but also one that makes sense for the community. So we’re approaching it very much with an open mind and look forward to talking to leaders on both sides of the state line.”
The plan rejected by voters in April would have tied the Chiefs to Arrowhead Stadium for 25 years, which Hunt has said is the expected remaining life for the facility. Voters in 2006 rejected adding a rolling roof that would have been shared with next door neighbor Kauffman Stadium but Hunt said that remains an option.
“I do think we’ll look at it again,” Hunt said. “I mentioned the possibility of a new stadium, also on the Missouri side. And I think if we went that route, certainly we would have to look at a dome. A dome gives you an ability to host a lot of other events, which could be important for the community.”
Arrowhead Stadium isn’t the only team facility in need of modernization. Hunt concedes the team has outgrown its headquarters and training complex. The Chiefs were graded poorly on the NFL Players Association report card issued in March for a willingness to invest in facilities.
Hunt notes that every NFL team has grown in terms of the number of people, players and coaches, a trend he expects to continue. In the nearly 15 years since the team moved into its headquarters and training complex, the organization has more than doubled its headcount to more than 300, excluding players.
“It would either be a major renovation of our existing training facility, or the construction of the new training facility that would help us accommodate not only the size of the organization now, but also where we’re likely to grow over the next couple of decades,” Hunt explained.
Hunt speaks to his team at the opening of training camp each season, and there are certain messages he reinforces every year.
“I want them to understand the culture of the club. The mission statement, obviously our goal, our goal is to end up in New Orleans, getting to play for another Lombardi Trophy. But the challenge this year is going to be the distractions. There’s going to be a lot of talk about us going back to back to back.”
Hunt told his team they must focus on the task at hand and the next team on the schedule and not let the distraction of a “threepeat” knock them off course.
“Every team we play is going to give us their best shot. When you’re the defending champion, that game is really important for the teams that you played. They circle it on their calendar as a chance to take out the defending champion.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo delivered a similar message Monday when asked what worries him about the upcoming campaign.
“The Baltimore Ravens,” Spagnuolo said, referencing the team’s Week 1 opponent on the opening night of the NFL season. “That’s all I’m thinking about right now to be quite honest with you. Listen, we know they’re gonna be all fired up, and that’s a good football team. So that’s one thing.”
NOTES: First-round draft pick Xavier Worthy was absent from practice Monday because of an illness, the team said. Worthy, who delivered the highlight play of Sunday’s opening training camp practice after hauling in a deep throw from Patrick Mahomes, is also returning from a hamstring injury sustained during the offseason. ... Seven other players did not participate in Monday’s workout. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph was excused for personal reasons. Left guard Joe Thuney (pectoral), who remains on the physically unable to perform list, worked on the sideline in the training tent during practice. Also on the PUP list are defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (tricep) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (shoulder). Safety Justin Reid and defensive end B.J. Thompson are on the non-football injury list.
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