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Arrowhead Stadium

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Arrowhead Stadium
The Home of the CHIEFS!
Facility Statistics
Location1 Arrowhead Drive
Kansas City, Missouri 64129
Broke GroundJuly 11, 1968
OpenedAugust 12, 1972
SurfaceGrass
OwnerJackson County Sports Complex Authority
ManagerKansas City Chiefs
Construction Cost$43 million USD
ArchitectKivett and Myers
Tenants
Kansas City Chiefs1972-present
Kansas City Wizards1996-present
Seating Capacity
200379,101

Arrowhead Stadium is one of a two-stadium structure, named the Truman Sports Complex and is home to the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs.

History

A $102 million voter-approved sports complex bond issue in 1967 stated that a plan originally for a single, multi-purpose, domed stadium (it would have been the world's first rolling stadium roof), but this was later discarded (due to conflicting design elements, seating capacity concerns, prohibitive costs, and project delays). Officials then decided to construct two stadiums, one for baseball (originally for the Kansas City Athletics, later for the Kansas City Royals) and another for football. The two-stadium complex concept was the first of its kind. The Chiefs staff, led by Jack Steadman, helped develop the complex. Construction began in 1968.

Arrowhead was completed for the 1972 season. On August 12, 1972, Arrowhead Stadium became the home of the Chiefs after Municipal Stadium was abandoned in 1971. The Chiefs first game at Arrowhead Stadium was against the Cardinals (Chiefs 24, St. Louis Cardinals 14).

In 1984, the Jackson County Sports Authority re-evaluated the concept of a dome (a fabric one). The concept was disreguarded as being unnecessary and financially impractical. In 1991, a JumboTron screen was installed. In 1994 other improvements were made and a grass playing surface was installed, replacing the original artificial turf.

Other facts

Arrowhead is one of the National Football League's loudest stadiums.

Arrowhead has a consecutive sell-out record of 100 times (dating to the opener in 1990). [ed. as of 2002]

The largest crowd to see a game in Arrowhead Stadium is 82,094 (vs. Oakland Raiders; November 4, 1972).

Quotes

"[Arrowhead is] the most revolutionary, futuristic, sports complex I have ever seen." - George Halas
"It took courage to sell the citizens of Kansas City on the twin park plan. But they bought it because they want the best." - Hal Lebovitz