Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead Stadium is the home of the NFL side, the Kansas City Chiefs, and it is one of the oldest active stadiums in the NFL, having opened more than 50 years ago in 1972.

Although the stadium is ‘old’ compared to its counterparts in the NFL, it has undergone significant renovation works on a number of occasions to ensure it has moved with the times.

Generally speaking, fans in the USA are fond of Arrowhead. Its unique design makes it stand out from the crowd, while the acoustics inside the place are second-to-none.

This was proven back in 2014, when the Chiefs fans broke a Guinness World Record for noise at an outdoor stadium when they reached 142.2 decibels during a match against the New England Patriots.

The only bad thing you could say about Arrowhead is the fact that there is no roof on top of it. This means that fans are entirely open to the elements, which can dampen spirits, particularly on a wet and windy day in Kansas City.

The tailgating culture is big in Kansas City, which only adds to the matchday experience for supporters coming from far and wide.

Arrowhead Stadium has been selected to host six matches at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.  These matches will take place on the following dates:

• 16 June: Group Stage match
• 20 June: Group Stage match
• 25 June: Group Stage match
• 27 June: Group Stage match
• 3 July: Round of 32 match
• 11 July: Quarter-final match

Some of the most famous and best players to ever pick up an American Football have called Arrowhead Stadium their home over the years, including none other than Patrick Mahomes. However, in terms of celebrities spotted in the stands at the stadium, here are a selection of names.

• Taylor Swift
• Blake Lively
• Ryan Reynolds
• Hugh Jackman
• Paul Rudd

🏟️| Our beloved Taylor seen at Arrowhead pic.twitter.com/hSsUyS2RJd

— Taylor Swift Updates ❤️‍🔥 (@swifferupdates) September 15, 2024

As mentioned at the top of the guide, this is officially the loudest stadium in the world; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Chiefs fans have a songbook to rival European football clubs. In fact, the sheer noise Arrowhead often comes from loud cheering and booing.

Having said that, the Chiefs do have some chants, the most famous of which is the Tomahawk Chop, which is seen on a weekly basis at Arrowhead.

The open nature of the stadium has its negatives when it comes to climate control, but it is beneficial when it comes to the view of the pitch, as it means there is no risk of an obstructed view.

The best views at the stadium can be found in the two large stands that run along the sides of the pitch.

Both sides are designed in an identical way, with a lower and upper tier being separated by a middle corporate tier. In terms of pitch view, the best areas to sit in these stands are either at the top of the lower tier or at the bottom of the top tier, right on the halfway line.

The unique design of Arrowhead means that there is also an argument for sitting behind the posts/goals on a visit here. The stand curves down in these areas, which can make you feel closer to the pitch than you do in the stands on the sideline.

Seating plan

While there isn’t an awful lot in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, there are a few bars worth visiting if you are prepared to go a couple of miles out of the way. Three of our recommended bars in the local area are:

• Score Sports Bar – 9100 East 35th St S, Independence, MO 64052, United States
• Shark Bar – 1340 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106, United States
• Kelly’s Westport Inn – 500 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111, United States

The lack of food/drink options around the stadium shouldn’t matter too much, as there is something for everyone inside it. To find out which eateries are closest to your section, check out the official stadium website. Generally speaking, though, these are the kinds of food that are on offer:

• Burgers
• Hot Dogs
• BBQ chicken
• Chicken tenders
• Chicken wings
• Fries
• Pizza
• Nachos

Like with the bars, you aren’t blessed with food options in the immediate vicinity of Arrowhead Stadium. However, if you are prepared to venture into Kansas City for a bite to eat before making your way to the stadium for kick-off, then you aren’t going to be short of options.

Some of our recommended restaurants in Kansas City include:

• Garozzo’s – 526 Harrison St, Kansas City, MO 64106, United States
• The Rockhill Grille – 2000 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
• The Antler Room – 2506 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States

By car

Take the I-70 East to the Manchester Exit, and when you come off, go South on Manchester to Gate 5 or Raytown Road. You will then come to the stadium, where you will be able to park your car.

The stadium has hundreds of car parking spaces available, but it is a requirement that slots are pre-booked. The car parks near Arrowhead typically open 4.5 hours before kick-off.

By public transport

For fans in and around Kansas City, the easiest way to get to Arrowhead Stadium is to take advantage of the local RideKC bus service. Fans should board the number 47 bus on the Broadway line if they want to be dropped off right outside the stadium.

Fans coming from further afield need to get the train into Kansas City before jumping on the RideKC service.

Arrowhead Stadium currently has a capacity of 76,416, but it hasn’t always been the case.

When the stadium was first opened in 1972, it did so with a capacity of 78,097. The capacity remained this way until 1994, when it was upped to 79,101. It was then increased further in 1996 to 79,451.

This capacity was then reduced to its current number in 2009 due to a big renovation project that took place at the stadium.

In February 2024, the Chiefs revealed that Arrowhead Stadium will undergo renovation work in the coming years. As part of this work, the number of seats inside the stadium is set to increase.

Fans are able to book stadium tours of Arrowhead Stadium throughout the year, with the only unavailable dates being Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and every day immediately after a Chiefs match.

Fans have multiple options when it comes to booking a tour at Arrowhead, with public, private and matchday offerings all on the table.

All tours follow a similar pattern, with the guests being invited into the newly renovated Chiefs Locker Room, the Hall of Honor and more.

For prices and availability, check out the official stadium website.

If you are planning on making a trip of it, then there are plenty of things worth doing in Kansas City that don’t revolve around the Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and/or Taylor Swift.

Some of the best things to do in Kansas City include:

• Pay your respects at the National WW1 Museum and Memorial.
• Check out the history of Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
• Learn about the history of one of America’s most popular spots at the Baseball Museum.
• Ride the rollercoasters at Worlds of Fun Oceans of Fun.
• Take a trip to Union Station.

The stadium isn’t as widely used for concerts as other NFL stadiums, but some huge names have still performed here over the years. The most notable are as follows:

• Taylor Swift
• Billy Joel
• Ed Sheeran
• Beyonce
• Johnny Cash

Arrowhead Stadium is the third stadium that the Chiefs have called home, after playing at the Cotton Bowl between 1960 and 1962, and the Municipal Stadium between 1963 and 1972.

The decision to build a stadium here was made after the Franchise was relocated from Dallas. It served as an excellent home for the Chiefs, but by the late 90s and early 00s, it had become dated.

Instead of building a new stadium somewhere else in Kansas City, the owners decided to pump money into renovation work at Arrowhead. Work that was undertaken included an update to the concourses, improved seating, and a new video board system.

Further renovation work is on the way in the coming years, but the Chiefs are committed to staying at Arrowhead for the long term.

• 82.094 (KC Chiefs vs Oakland Raiders, 1972)