Inside the Chiefs' New $3.3 Billion Stadium Plans - And the Big Question on Fans' Minds
The Kansas City Chiefs are planning a major move - not just on the field, but off it. The franchise’s long-anticipated new stadium is officially on the horizon, slated to open in Wyandotte County in 2031. While construction won’t wrap for several years, fans already have one burning question: What will it take to get a seat?
Chiefs president Mark Donovan confirmed that the new stadium will be smaller than the iconic Arrowhead Stadium, which currently seats 73,426. The new venue will still be sizable, with a capacity of “65,000-plus,” and it’ll come with a dome - a big shift for a team known for its outdoor, cold-weather home field advantage.
But beyond the size and structure, the financials are just as headline-worthy. The stadium carries a projected cost of $3.3 billion.
According to the team, 60% of that will be funded through STAR bonds issued by state lawmakers - a financing mechanism that allows future sales tax revenue to help pay for the project. The remaining 40% will come from private sources, including the Chiefs themselves.
And that’s where the big-ticket topic comes in: personal seat licenses, or PSLs.
Will PSLs Be Part of the Chiefs' New Home?
At the stadium announcement in Topeka, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt addressed the elephant in the room when asked about the possibility of PSLs. His answer? Nothing’s been decided yet.
“We haven’t made a decision on that,” Hunt said. “We’ll be looking at the overall financing in the coming months in terms of how we put that together. Every new stadium in the NFL that’s been built in the last 10 or 20 years has included personal seat licenses.”
That’s a telling quote. While GEHA Field at Arrowhead doesn’t currently require PSLs, the trend across the league is clear: if you’re building a shiny new stadium, PSLs are almost always part of the equation.
What Exactly Is a Personal Seat License?
Think of a PSL as a down payment on the right to buy season tickets. It’s not the ticket itself - it’s the license that gives you the exclusive right to purchase tickets for a specific seat, year after year.
In stadiums that use PSLs, fans must first buy the license before they can even think about purchasing season tickets. That license gives them long-term control over their seat, and in many cases, the ability to buy tickets to non-football events like concerts or college games held at the venue.
In essence, you’re not just buying access - you’re buying ownership of a seat location. And as long as the team stays in that stadium, the PSL remains valid.
Currently, 20 NFL teams have PSLs in place. That number will jump to 21 when the Buffalo Bills move into their new stadium in 2026. PSLs have also made their way into other leagues, with a handful of NBA, NHL, and MLB teams adopting similar models.
What Do PSLs Actually Cost?
Prices vary widely depending on the team, the stadium, and the location of the seat. Take the Atlanta Falcons, for example. Their PSLs start at $750 for upper-level seats, but move quickly into the thousands as you get closer to the field.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Falcons PSL pricing tiers:
- Reserve Membership (300-level): $750-$1,225
- Select Membership (lower bowl): $2,500-$2,670
- Premium Club Level: $5,965-$6,300
- Founders Club Level: $10,190
The Baltimore Ravens offer a similar structure. Their PSLs start at $750, with season tickets in that range costing around $776 to $798.
But if you want to be on the field? That’ll run you $12,000 for the PSL alone, with season tickets priced at $10,500.
It’s important to note that PSLs are a one-time purchase per seat. Teams usually offer payment plans, but once you’ve paid it off, the seat is yours - as long as you keep buying the season tickets.
Why Teams Use PSLs in the First Place
PSLs aren’t just a fan-access tool - they’re a major piece of the financial puzzle for new stadiums. The concept gained momentum in the 1990s and has since become a go-to method for NFL teams looking to fund big builds without leaning entirely on public money.
For example, in Cleveland, the Browns are planning a $2.4 billion enclosed stadium, with $900 million expected to come from taxpayers. PSLs and season ticket sales are expected to help the team cover the rest of their share.
In Buffalo, the Bills have already raised around $245 million through PSL sales for their upcoming stadium. According to filings with New York state, the team has sold more than 48,000 PSLs, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $50,000. Only about 6,000 remain available.
As for the Chiefs, they’re expected to cover 40% of the stadium’s $3.3 billion price tag. Whether PSLs will be part of that contribution is still to be determined - but based on league trends, it’s certainly a strong possibility.
What It All Means for Chiefs Fans
For now, there are more questions than answers. But one thing is clear: the Chiefs are entering a new era, and the new stadium will come with new rules - and likely, new costs - for fans who want to lock in their seats for the long haul.
PSLs, if implemented, would mark a major shift for Kansas City, where Arrowhead has long been one of the most accessible and tradition-rich stadiums in the league. But with a domed, state-of-the-art facility on the way, the team - and its fan base - are preparing to step into the next chapter.
Stay tuned, Chiefs Kingdom. The future is coming fast, and it might just come with a price tag.