A $10 million renovation project happening at Arrowhead Stadium over the coming weeks could help the metro attract more big events in the years to come.
The Chiefs announced the stadium would be adding new seats with cup holders to the entire upper deck and new LED panels to the scoreboard.
The additions to the sports landmark all come as Kansas City remains in the running to possibly host 2026 World Cup games and the Frozen Four college hockey tournament, among other events.
“Any time we see renovations, that means growth, in my opinion,” explained Visit KC board member and O’Neill Events & Marketing President and CEO Keli O’Neill Wenzel. “For Kansas City, it’s really important that all of our venues are at their top shape in order to get national bids to concerts.”
Over the past few years, Wenzel helped organize the Royals World Series parade and Boulevardia.
With other special projects continuing to take shape around the city, including the new downtown hotel and new KCI terminal, she said renovations at Arrowhead could help keep up the momentum for hosting a big event.
“We have so much competition,” she explained. “It’s really important that every venue that we have in the city is a venue that we can sell.”
The sports facility was first opened back in 1972.
According to metro architect Galen Lif, the renovations would help the stadium move into the future.
“From a maintenance standpoint, it’s a pretty big deal to take out all the seats on the upper level,” he explained. “Every few years, there will be maintenance required just to make sure it stays current, stays up to date and stays intact.”
Moving forward, Wenzel said the renovations at Arrowhead and the special projects around the city could bring big benefits.
“When you see growth in our town, get excited because that means more is coming,” she said.
The renovation project will also include waterproofing on the upper deck to improve the structure of Arrowhead Stadium.
The team said work at the facility would begin in the coming days.
