One of the biggest construction projects Kansas has ever seen just cleared another step on paper.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland published the boundaries of the Kansas City Chiefs STAR Bonds District. According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the district will collect new sales tax revenue to pay for a $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County, the Chiefs' headquarters and training facility in Olathe, and parts of the mixed-use development around them.
"Establishing the district boundaries moves us one step closer to building the Chiefs' new state-of-the art domed stadium in Kansas," Toland said. "This is a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for Kansas and we will ensure that all Kansans enjoy the benefits of this new stadium for many, many years to come."
How the district works
STAR bonds, short for sales tax and revenue bonds, are paid back with new sales tax generated inside a set district. The Chiefs district stretches across six cities: Kansas City, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, Shawnee, Lenexa and Olathe.
Commerce says the map was drawn around two goals shared by the governor's office and the Legislature: get the most economic impact out of the project, and pay off the bonds as early as possible so the revenue can go back to the state and the local communities.
The map sets the area from which the state will pledge new, incremental state sales tax revenue. It doesn't touch any pledge of local revenue. Three areas are carved out: the University of Kansas Medical Center complex and the area right around it, a mostly vacant part of Shawnee, and existing STAR bond districts.
The whole package is a $4 billion project, including $1 billion of mixed-use development, financed as a public-private partnership. The public side is funded with STAR bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund, which was set up for this purpose. Commerce says there will be no new state taxes and no impact on the state budget.
Once it's fully running, the state expects the project to create more than 4,000 new permanent jobs and $1 billion a year in economic impact. The stadium will be owned by the people of Kansas and leased to the team, which is set to start playing there in 2031. A new 11-member Kansas Sports Facilities Authority will oversee construction, financing and management of the stadium, the practice facility and the infrastructure that goes with them.
What we know about the stadium
The Chiefs released the first renderings in July. According to the team's announcement, the stadium will be fully enclosed under a translucent ETFE roof, with about 70,000 seats and more than 20,000 parking spaces.
The design team is all Kansas City. MANICA is the lead design architect, and HNTB is the architect of record. CAA ICON is serving as the owner's representative.
The team says the seating bowl will echo Arrowhead Stadium. Outside, plans include a modern plaza with the Lamar Hunt statue, a Chiefs Hall of Honor more than twice the size of today's, a team store about four times larger, and parking lots built around tailgating.
"While we're still finalizing many of the details, there are a few things we know for sure: it will hold 70,000 fans, it will still be the best place in the world to tailgate, and the whole building will be built for noise," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said.
What hasn't been announced is a builder. No general contractor or construction manager for the stadium has been made public.
Why it matters for Contractors
A $3 billion stadium, a new headquarters and training campus, and $1 billion in mixed-use development add up to years of work for the Kansas City region. The stadium alone will need site work, concrete, structural steel, a specialty roof, and massive MEP, electrical and technology packages, plus more than 20,000 parking spaces. The mixed-use districts haven't been detailed, but that kind of development is often closer to the everyday work of residential and light commercial contractors. With a 2031 opening date, the big contracts are likely to be awarded well ahead of time, so the next milestone to watch is when a general contractor or construction manager is named. That firm will run the subcontractor buyout, and local trades will want to be ready.