End of an Era: Dynastic NFL Team Leaves State It's Called Home Since 1963

Western Journal ^ | December 23, 2025 | Bryan Chai

[Red Badger]

In the 1988 movie “Cocktail,” Tom Cruise’s character Brian Flanagan had the enduring quote that, “Everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn’t end.”

Well, Kansas City Chiefs fans who are actually in Missouri… that line appears to hold true today as it did all those years ago.

At the tail end of what’s been a brutal year (the team lost superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a torn ACL, and star tight end Travis Kelce officially appears to be losing the battle with Father Time) where the Chiefs will finish with a losing record, the team gave its local fans one last dose of bad news.

As ESPN reported, the Chiefs announced Monday that the team would be leaving Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, and will head across the state line to relocate to Kansas City, Kansas, ahead of the 2031 NFL season.

The locals are not taking the news especially well, including Gov. Mike Kehoe — who had been working tirelessly to secure a funding package to renovate Arrowhead Stadium so that the Chiefs would stay put in the state they’ve called home since 1963.

(The Chiefs were originally based in Dallas and were known as the “Texans” when the team debuted in 1960, before moving to Kansas City, per CBS Sports.)

“They thought new and shiny was better than old and reliable,” Kehoe said.

[Red Badger]

NFL Ping!...............

[Paul R.]

Thoughts:

The Chiefs have a great fan base - granted, that tends to come with success on the field. Will they lose any of it, especially since the team’s performance has dropped off?

I suppose that if the citizens approve of it, gov’t support for these new or renovated stadiums is “the will of the people”, but, I just don’t like taxpayer money going into these fabulously wealthy teams, supporting ridiculously high-paid players, coaches, and so on.

[ComputerGuy]

Dynastic

[ghost of nixon]

I’m a Chiefs fan since 1968. The move doesn’t affect the true fan base. It actually moves the team to a much better part of the metro area.

[Red Badger]

Only the “Bandwagon Fans” will drop off. If the team goes thru a few years of mediocrity then the true fans will show up.........

[AZJeep]

It kind of reminds me about protests when AZ Cardinals moved from Tempe to Glendale. Just across the valley.
Who cares?!

[Dr. Sivana]

Will they lose any of it, especially since the team’s performance has dropped off?

Most fans don't get to go to the games, but watch at home or in bars. The move is not far, and I believe most fans will prefer the easier access. I am assuming the stadium design (e.g. Soldier Field renovation) isn't botched. Missouri is not putting up the money, but they will still get air flight and hotel revenue. The Cowboys still has its fanbase, even though I imagine Arlington is considerably farther than the Chiefs new site. Jumping state lines is not new either. The Giants have 50 years in New Jersey, and looking at NY taxes and expenses, even NJ is a bargain.

[Red Badger]

Just like here along the Gulf Coast, you couldn’t find a Saints fan anywhere when they were called the “AINTS”.

But as soon as they win a Superbowl with Drew Brees and Co. Bot there were Saints fans everywhere! Stickers on cars, License plates, merchandise in all the convenience stores, Team Jerseys everywhere. It was disgusting. If you are a fan of a team, you stick with them thru thick and thin.

All that Saints merchandise is now in the Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift shops for a dollar..........

[T.B. Yoits]

The Chiefs will be able to take a knee in solidarity with Communist, anti-white organizations such as Black Lives Matter^TM in home games in two states.

[ghost of nixon]

Hanging out at massive tailgate parties at Arrow head stadium is one of my great American experiences. I won’t attempt to defend NFL excess, but I always enjoy it.

[Jolla]

The move is not far

Before this discussion I bet 50% of NFL fans would not know KC Chiefs play in Missouri

[ghost of nixon]

I suffered through 50 years of not even one Super Bowl appearance with the Chiefs. That has made the recent success so so sweet. The real fans don’t desert their team...in general, I have found Chiefs fans pretty resilient and humble.

[blitz128]

lol I didn’t
Much like I had no idea where the “New England” patriots played, or that the New York giants were really the New Jersey giants for a long time, mostly because I didn’t care😂

Will the bears become the Gary Indiana Bears😂😂😂

[pburiak]

Moving 20 miles isn’t a big deal. It’s not like the fan base is having the team ripped out from under them and relocated halfway across the country.

I’m more disappointed to see another sterile indoor venue for football. Outside of the Sun Belt and West Coast, January playoff games don’t seem right without snow, wind, and everyone bundling up.

[PGalt]

“I suffered through 50 years...”

Rookie. Talk about suffering, talk Detroit Lions fans. The last time they won the title I was a 7 year old kid. Televisions were not commonplace back then.

: )

[Red Badger]

Imagine what the Lions fans must be like.............😏

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yes, I’ve wondered if this move is big news in the Kansas City area. They are still in the same metropolitan area.

Isn’t this situation similar to how the Jets and Giants play in New Jersey, Dallas Cowboys play in a suburban town, etc?

[poinq]

This has happened all over. They are just turning into the Jets. There is often more land just across the border. So thats where the new stadium will be built. It still says Kansas. People won’t notice. And as someone who has watched the Raiders and the Rams move all over the country its not a bad thing when your team moves over the bridge. New stadiums suck for the neighbors. They rarely make the money they are supposed to. And they are surrounded by huge parking lots which sit empty most of the year.

[Red Badger]

And become huge Heat Zones in the summer..............