Chiefs Owner Says New Arrowhead Will Be 'As Good As Any New Stadium In The NFL'

by Joel Thorman on May 8, 2010 10:00 AM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

The Chiefs (and Kansas City) are obviously thrilled with opening the 2010 NFL season on Monday Night in the renovated Arrowhead Stadium. When we talked with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York, he said the Monday Night game was a way to celebrate the renovations the Chiefs have put into the stadium.

Talking with 610 Sports' Bob Fescoe, Clark Hunt echoed those thoughts.

"Anytime you get to host a Monday Night game, it's a big deal," Hunt said. "In this case, it will be the grand re-opening of Arrowhead Stadium. Something that has been five or six years in the making. Something that the citizens of Jackson County made a significant contribution to. And I'm just thrilled that the National Football League was able to give us that game as a way to help celebrate what we've done over the last five or six years with the stadium."

I don't know about you all, but I like the fact that Arrowhead is such an old stadium. There's a lot of history in a stadium nearing its 40th year in existence.

"Stadiums rarely have a life that's beyond 25 years," Hunt continued. "The great thing about Arrowhead is -- in its 37 or 38th year -- we were able to do a renovation that, frankly, is going to make it as good as any new stadium in the NFL.

"I had a chance to do a tour of the building a couple weeks ago, and I saw some areas that had not been finished yet that were very close to being completed and it's absolutely fantastic. I"m thrilled with the way it turned out. It's better than what I expected."

I think I may just have to attend that game.

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been to a lot of different stadiums....

but none match the experience…the friendly vibe….To think of a new arrowhead so to speak…Lets hope it means home field advantage returns to Kansas City

Team Pioli/Haley

by SDChief on May 8, 2010 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

I agree with you.

I have been to NFL games in San Diego, Minneapolis, Jacksonville, New England and Seattle. Arrowhead is the best. I am also proud that I worked on the tax initiative to renovate the Truman Complex.

by Slydog51 on May 8, 2010 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

yep

for football…arrowhead beat…San Fran, Oakland, San Diego, Jacksonville, St Louis, Atlanta, Detroit, Cinci, Miami,Dallas(old),Seattle,Cardinals(new and the ASU stadium)…when it came to the whole experience….in fact, it wasnt even close…sure I am bias, but really the sea of red was absolutely the craziest thing I had ever seen walking into the BBQ pre game festivities.

Team Pioli/Haley

by SDChief on May 8, 2010 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

the only stadium(s) i have ever been to that come close to the Arrowhead experience are all college

Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium
“The Big House” at Michigan
and The Yale Bown and Harvard Stadium (Ivy League Football isn’t the best in terms of athletes, but for game experience and rivalries, i don’t think it can be beat).

i really wanted to enjoy my time at Colorado’s Folsom field, because Boulder is beautiful and the views from the stadium are nice, i just couldn’t because those have to be the worst fans in all of sports. they are TERRIBLE. rude, obnoxious, drunk, stupid, they made Philly fans seem uptight and classy.

by bansky on May 8, 2010 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

bansky

you an ivy leaguer? eli?

Following the Chiefs more than I should be between late nights at a social networking software start up.

by austinchief on May 8, 2010 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey Sly, how goes it my friend? You are right, nothing like the Arrowhead experience!

by cowboyChief on May 9, 2010 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

The building of the Truman Sports Complex was truly visionary.

I am too lazy to do the research on this myself, but I wonder how many other American stadiums (football, baseball or multi-purpose) have been built, torn down and then rebuilt since the TSC has been around.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on May 8, 2010 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

Ive only been to Arrowhead as far as NFL stadiums go...

And Ive been to several baseball stadiums and Kaufman is by far my favorite… So if this holds true that really makes the Truman Sports Complex quite the place… If only it was more developed around there.

Sometimes the best way to convince someone he is wrong is to let him have his way. --- Red O'Donnell

by averagegatsby on May 8, 2010 10:34 AM CDT reply actions

The K is an amazing place to see a ball game...

IMO it’s a better overall experience than going to Arrowhead…although the tailgate at a Chiefs game makes it pretty close.

Don't Fuccop Succop

by chicks_love_chiefs on May 8, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I think in a winning season for the chiefs, its tough to beat that experience...2003 was awesome

Team Pioli/Haley

by SDChief on May 8, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Arrowhead Stadium

As Good As any New Stadium ! I am thrilled ! 2010 The Year Of The Chiefs !

by 65tosspowertrap on May 8, 2010 10:51 AM CDT reply actions

I don't know about that

How can you beat a 75yard long screen that costs over $1mill to move?

Gonna laugh when pixels break on the screen and its no longer functional

by dudebuddyrage on May 8, 2010 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

About time

The last time I went to a game TO was still an Eagle. But I’ve been overseas. Let’s hope the product on the field matches the stadium upgrades.

by Shawn324 on May 8, 2010 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

I'm not goning to be able to make to the MNF game.

But I hope the stands are packed and are packed the rest of the season. I hope I never hear the word “blackout” again pertaining to the Kansas City Chiefs.

"Without me, it's just aweso".- a possible comment made by Jamaal Charles and/or Eric Berry.

by chiefs_fan05 on May 8, 2010 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

Many here are too young to remember

but the original plans for the TSC included a retractable dome. This rolling roof was to be on tracks that connected Arrowhead to The K so that the roof could be rolled to cover either as the need arose. A prolonged labor dispute delayed completion of the TSC. By the time the dispute was settled and construction could resume, the funds for the roof had been reallocated by the city.

TSC is, imho, the best stadium complex around (and I have been to many) I can only immagine how revolutionary TSC would have been if the original designs had been completed.

by KCCIIS on May 8, 2010 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

SB

We would’ve already hosted the Super Bowl…

by Shawn324 on May 8, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Is there still any potential of someday having the retractable dome?

by jcox31mc on May 8, 2010 12:18 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe, if it is brought up for a vote again and the financing were fully explained then maybe.

by TRUEGRITT on May 8, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Why Do You Think

The voters voted against the rolling roof that would have been paid for by mostly local business’. It would have been the icing on the cake in my opinion and given KC a a landmark for destination.

by TRUEGRITT on May 8, 2010 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

I'm not 100% sure...

but from what I remember reading, I think the wording of the ballot was confusing and some people didn’t realize they were voting against it. Maybe someone from KC can verify that. The roof would probably have guaranteed a Super Bowl, Final Four, World Cup, etc. which would have meant a lot of money coming in for the area.

by sdchiefs on May 8, 2010 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think people appreciate how visionary the TSC was at the time.

Everywhere else in the country they were buliding drab, multi-purpose stadia that have already been gone for a decade. Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, Riverfront in Cincinnati, the Murph in San Diego, Oakland Coliseum, the list goes on and on. Now most of those cities have separate football and baseball facilities, many next door to each other. Kansas City got this right 30 years before anyone else figured it out. And the designs were so good that well into the 1990s the facilities felt newer and fresher than stuff built much later.

Kansas City has had it’s share of things it has and hasn’t done well, but, to use a sports euphamism, they knocked it out of the park with the Truman Sports Complex.

by DonnyDonovan on May 8, 2010 12:39 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

yeah, they really could have taught san diego a thing or two on understanding that more people would come, and there would be no room.

I cant even find a handicap parking spot 2.5 hours before a game against the chiefs.

and its not due to popularity…there is just no space, and if you park elsewhere, its a 20 min walk up a hill or something ridiculous.

Team Pioli/Haley

by SDChief on May 8, 2010 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Remember the trend in the 90s to build a 1930s style baseball stadium?

It started in Baltimore and it was cool when one stadium was like Camden Yards. Then virtually every ballpark over the next decade was some sort of knockoff. Forty years later the designs of both Arrowhead and Kaufman stadiums feel modern and original.

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.

by Rev. Slappy on May 8, 2010 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

As noisy as Arrowhead is, think of how loud it would be with a dome.

by jcox31mc on May 8, 2010 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

I've been to several pro and college games

And I’ve always wanted to see the Chiefs in Arrowhead.

My favorite stadium is easily Bryant-Denny stadium at the Univeristy of Alabama. I think it’s damned near impossible to beat the atmosphere at a college football game. Something about a whole town being consumed in one activity. Bryant Denny becomes the third largest city in Alabama during home games.

Been to RFK, Fedex, M&T Bank, Lane Stadium (VT), Scott Stadium (UVA), Legion Field, and a bunch of baseball stadiums/fields/parks .

by tebunker on May 8, 2010 5:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I'm working on "New Arrowhead" right now

I’m really pleased with the plans. They didn’t change anything inside the bowl, as far as seats are concerned. They added alot of new things outside the bowl. The biggest difference will be the new entrances and the new press box on top of the south seats.

I’m installing the glass on the south side now. Today we finished the lower sections and Monday we start up on the press box. Should be pretty fun. We have multiple 135 ft boom lifts and some cranes to boom in the glass (this isn’t a job for those scared of hieghts).

The stadium will be AWESOME in more ways than one on Monday Night Football. Can’ beat the atmosphere of Arrowhead on MNF!!!

by King Carl's 5 Year Plan on May 8, 2010 7:19 PM CDT reply actions