Arrowhead Stadium
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| Arrowhead Stadium | |
|---|---|
| "The Red Sea" | |
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| Location | One Arrowhead Drive Kansas City, Missouri 64129 |
| Broke ground | 1972 |
| Opened | August 12,1972 |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Owner | Jackson County Sports Complex Authority |
| Operator | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Surface | Grass (originally AstroTurf) |
| Construction cost | $43 million USD |
| Architect | Kivett and Myers |
| Tenants | |
| Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) (1972-Present) Kansas City Wizards (MLS) (1996-2006) |
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| Seats | |
| 79,451 | |
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and former home to Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards. It is part of the city's Truman Sports Complex (together with Kauffman Stadium). Fans occasionally refer to the stadium as The Red Sea or simply Arrowhead.
Though many NFL fans argue, Arrowhead has long been considered to be the loudest outdoor stadium in the NFL: the fans often reach sound levels of over 120 decibels, which is as loud as a jet airliner taking off. Because of the "atmosphere" in the stadium, Sports Illustrated gave the Chiefs' home field, Arrowhead Stadium, the title of being the "Toughest Place to Play" for opposing teams. [1]
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[edit] History
In January 1967, the Chiefs played in the first Super Bowl. In October Charlie Finley finally got approval to move the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland, California and out of the aging Municipal Stadium and its inner city neighborhood.
The City of Kansas City was unable to find a suitable location for a stadium so Jackson County, Missouri stepped in and offered a suburban location on the extreme east edge of Kansas City near the interchange of Interstate 70 and Interstate 435.
Voters in 1967 approved a $102 million bond issue to build new stadiums. The original design called for construction of separate baseball and football stadiums with a common roof that would roll between them. The design proved to be more complicated and expensive than originally thought and so was scrapped in favor of the current open air configuration. 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.
The original two stadium concept was initially suggested by Denver architect Charles Deaton and Steadman. It was implemented by the Kansas City architect firm of Kivett & Myers. In 1975 the firm merged with Kansas City architect firm HNTB which has gone on to design stadiums across the country including the following NFL stadiums: Giants Stadium, RCA Dome, INVESCO Field at Mile High, and Ralph Wilson Stadium. Other architects from Kivett joined HOK Sport + Venue + Event which is headquartered in Kansas City. Almost every professional stadium the United States in the last 20 years has been designed by the firms.
Construction on Arrowhead Stadium was completed for the 1972 season. On August 12, 1972, The Chiefs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 24-14 in the first game at Arrowhead Stadium.
In 1984, the Jackson County Sports Authority re-evaluated the concept of a dome (a fabric one). The concept was disregarded 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.
With the formation of the Major League Soccer in 1996, Arrowhead became home to the Kansas City Wizards.
[edit] The Future of Arrowhead
On April 4, 2006, Jackson County voters approved a tax increase for $850 million for renovations to Arrowhead and nearby Kauffman Stadium. However the voters rejected a tax increase for $170 million to place a rolling roof on the stadium. Prior to the election the NFL awarded the 49th Super Bowl in 2015 to Kansas City provided it have a climate controlled stadium.
Question 1 sought a three-eighths-cent sales tax to raise an estimated $850 million during 25 years to finance $425 million in construction costs, with the remainder spent on interest and future major stadium repairs. [2]
Voters approved of the first question on the ballot (a 3/8 cent sales tax to help renovate Kauffman & Arrowhead Stadiums) by 53%. Thus since the rolling roof plan did not pass, Kansas City chose to withdraw its request to host Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. [3]
Campaign organizers estimate that the reconstruction for the stadiums will begin sometime in 2007, and the stadiums will be done by the year 2010.
Major League Soccer departed the stadium following the 2006 season due to the renovation project. The Wizards are focusing on building a soccer-only facility in Overland Park, Kansas, but will play at a temporary facility in the interim.
[edit] Improvements for Arrowhead Stadium, 2007
Field Level
- Renovate Team Facilities and other locker room and support areas
- New and expanded utility services
Field Level Concourse
- Significant increase in fan amenities; restrooms, concessions, retail, first aid and fan accommodation stations
- Approximately double the width of the concourse areas
- Replacement of deteriorated concrete
- New Commissary and storage areas
Plaza Level Concourse
- New landscape and hardscape surrounding the stadium
- New gates and expanded entry areas
- New ticket offices
- New mechanical and electrical service areas
- New enlarged team merchandise store
- Kansas City Football Museum
- Restaurant open year-round
- Renovated administrative offices
- New Club entrances and meeting areas
Club Level
- New enclosed climate controlled spaces
- Replace mid deck seats
- Double fan amenities
- Renovated national broadcast and coaches’ booths
- Renovated and expanded Suites
Upper Level Concourses
- Significant increase in fan amenities; restrooms, concessions, retail, first aid, and fan accommodation stations
- Approximately double the width of the concourse areas
- Large open party decks
New Press and Suite Level Addition
- South sideline structure housing primarily new Broadcast and Press Facilities
- New Suites along north sideline structure
Seating Bowl
- New, Enlarged Video Boards with state of the art technology
- Upgraded sound system
Miscellaneous
- Provide better access for fans to all levels with more elevators
- Vibrant and colorful environmental graphics throughout
- Overall improvements transform the stadium image
- New fire alarm, communications, lighting and electrical systems and upgraded fire protection system throughout.
- Expand Administrative Offices and Training Center
[edit] Trivia
- As of week eleven of the 2006 NFL season, Arrowhead Stadium has a consecutive sell-out record of 138 games (dating back to the home opener in 1990).
- In 1974 Arrowhead Stadium hosted the Pro Bowl. Due to an ice storm and brutally cold temperatures the week leading up to the game, the game's participants worked out at the facilities of the San Diego Chargers. On game day, the temperature soared to 41 degrees, melting most of the ice and snow that accumulated during the week. The AFC defeated the NFC by a score of 15-13.
- The largest crowd to see a game in Arrowhead Stadium is 82,094 (vs. Oakland Raiders; November 4, 1972).
- Arrowhead has hosted four Big 12 Conference football championship games: Kansas State versus Oklahoma in 2000 and 2003, Colorado v. Oklahoma in 2004, and Nebraska versus Oklahoma on December 2, 2006. In the 2006 game, the Sooners set a new Big 12 Championship Game record by scoring a touchdown 48 seconds into the game. Arrowhead Stadium will also host the Big 12 Championship game again in 2007.
[edit] Other Uses
Drum Corps International has held its annual Drum & Bugle Corps World Championships at the stadium two times in 1988 and 1989. A drum and bugle corps or drum corps is a musical marching unit (similar to a marching band) consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in field competitions, parades, and other civic functions. The prime age for participation is 14–22, but many corps exist for age groups younger and older. Competitive corps participate in summer touring circuits culminating at the DCI World Championships.
[edit] Quotes
- "[Arrowhead is] the most revolutionary, futuristic, sports complex I have ever seen." - George Halas [4]
- "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 [5]
- "That stadium definitely is one of the loudest stadiums you'll ever play in...The crowd is like right on top of you. You can't hear cadence, you can't make calls. That stadium rocks." - Bryant Young, San Francisco 49ers' Defensive tackle [6]
[edit] References
- ^ Sports Illustrated's 2005 poll: "Toughest Places to Play"
- ^ Voters OK stadium upgrades, reject rolling roof Kansas City Business Journal, 5 April, 2006.
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2458407 No rolling roof, no Super Bowl at Arrowhead] Associated Press, 25 May 2006.
- ^ The History of Arrowhead Stadium KCChiefs.com
- ^ Arrowhead Stadium facts
- ^ Crumpacker, John. 49ers have to cope with the din of Arrowhead San Francisco Chronicle, 1 October 2006.
[edit] External links
- Arrowhead stadium info - Seating chart - Virtual Tour
- Stadiums of the NFL: Arrowhead stadium
- Ballparks.com's Arrowhead Stadium
- Ticketmaster's Arrowhead Stadium - Seating Chart
- Aerial Views of Arrowhead Stadium, StadiumFind.com
- Warpaint Illustrated magazine and website covering Chiefs exclusively
| Preceded by Municipal Stadium 1963–1971 |
Home of the Kansas City Chiefs 1972–present |
Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by first stadium |
Home of the Kansas City Wizards 1996–2006 |
Succeeded by TBD temporary stadium 2007–present |
| Current Stadiums in Major League Soccer |
||
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Dick's Sporting Goods Park | The Home Depot Center | Pizza Hut Park | Rice-Eccles Stadium | Robertson Stadium | Arrowhead Stadium | Columbus Crew Stadium | BMO Field | Giants Stadium | Gillette Stadium | RFK Memorial Stadium | Toyota Park | |
