Travis Kelce has spent his entire NFL career at Arrowhead Stadium, a building tied to championships and the loudest years in Kansas City football. With the franchise now locked into a $3 billion stadium project across the state line in Kansas, the tight end addressed what that change would mean during the latest episode of his “New Heights“ podcast.
Travis Kelce Reflects On Leaving Arrowhead And Missouri Side Of Kansas City
Kelce spoke with his brother, Jason Kelce, about the proposed move while discussing the new domed venue, the current lease on Arrowhead Stadium, which expires after the 2030 season, and how professional sports often evolve faster than the traditions attached to them.
The Chiefs have played at Arrowhead since 1972, the oldest stadium in the AFC, and any relocation would close a chapter that has defined the organization for more than five decades.
“I think it’s gonna be unbelievable once it’s finally set in stone, but it is gonna be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the Chiefs are gonna move away from Arrowhead and that side of like the Missouri side of Kansas City,” Kelce said. “And it’s just, it’s just a part of the old, you know, professional sports.”
“I think it’s going to be unbelievable once it’s finally set in stone, but it is going to be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the Chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead”
Travis Kelce on the #Chiefs moving out of Missouri to Kansas
Via | @newheightshow #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/RaLMuquAVQ
— SleeperChiefs (@SleeperChiefsKC) February 11, 2026
The franchise announced in December that it intends to build a new domed stadium across the state line in Kansas. Lawmakers in Kansas have pledged to fund 60 percent of the project, including $1.8 billion in bonds backed by sales taxes, a package described as the largest public subsidy ever provided for a stadium in the United States. The decision followed a Jackson County vote that rejected a sales tax extension tied to an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead.
The discussion arrives at a complicated moment for the team. The Chiefs finished 6-11 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in Week 15.
Kelce, 36, played the 2025 season on an expiring contract and has not announced whether he will return for 2026, though NFL Network reported he has been in contact with the club about a potential return and that the Chiefs want him back.
It was a difficult season for the Chiefs; their defense ranked 11th in PFSN’s defensive impact grade, but the offense slipped to 17th. The stadium debate centers on the expectation that the Chiefs will be great for years to come.
Kelce’s remarks captured that tension. He acknowledged the appeal of a modern facility while recognizing what would be lost if the Chiefs left the Missouri side. Arrowhead shaped his career. Kelce would be 40 years old when the Chiefs are expected to leave. He’ll likely never play in the new stadium, but his returns home will feel much different.
