Chiefs Officially Leave Door Open to Exit Missouri as Kansas Makes Key Patrick Mahomes-Linked Decision
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes made his stance on the stadium talks crystal clear, emphasizing what truly matters – the fans. As the conversation heated up over a possible move to Kansas or staying in Missouri, Mahomes leaned into the emotion of it all. “I do love the fans. The best part of Kansas City is that they love it but they embrace everybody that comes to the games and they tailgate it,†he said. A heartfelt testament to the Arrowhead atmosphere and Kansas City community. Amid rumors of relocation, Mahomes’s words serve as a powerful reminder of what makes this team special, and what could be lost if that bond is severed. However, emotions don’t have any place in the rough sport.
Chiefs team president Mark Donovan made headlines on July 7, 2025, with a diplomatic but telling statement, “We’re making great progress†on stadium talks in both Missouri and Kansas. Speaking after a direct conversation with Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Donovan was careful not to commit, signaling instead that both states remain firmly in play. That one line kept the Missouri-Kansas stadium rivalry alive and louder than ever.
Missouri has pushed hard in recent months to retain Patrick Mahomes’ franchise at Arrowhead. In June, Governor Kehoe signed off on a financing plan offering to cover up to 50% of renovation or relocation costs, with additional tax incentives. The proposal aimed to fortify Missouri’s bid before Jackson County heads to the polls, possibly in April 2026, for a decisive vote. But Donovan’s words on Monday suggest that Missouri hasn’t sealed the deal just yet.
Chiefs team president Mark Donovan said “we’re making great progress†in both Missouri and Kansas toward a stadium decision. He spoke with Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe today.
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) July 7, 2025
This isn’t the first time Donovan has taken a cautiously neutral stance. What’s different now is the looming sense of urgency. With the Chiefs’ lease at GEHA Field expiring in 2031 and the Royals also exploring new sites, both franchises want clarity sooner rather than later. Missouri’s timeline to put stadium funding on a ballot might delay progress into mid-2026, giving Kansas valuable room to maneuver.
Even players have chimed in. Travis Kelce recently admitted he’d be heartbroken to leave Arrowhead, but understood the business side of things. “Arrowhead is home for me,†Kelce said back in May. “It’s a part of my heart, playing in that stadium. “But the fans want what the fans want. We play for them. I think it’s up to them.†Missouri offers tradition and fan legacy, but Kansas may offer something more future-proof.
Ultimately, Donovan’s carefully chosen phrasing suggests one thing, the Chiefs are open to the highest bidder. Kansas may be newer to the game, but it just made a bold second-half move. And it involves Patrick Mahomes directly.
Patrick Mahomes’ franchise gets major hope from Missouri
Just hours after Donovan’s remarks, Kansas’s Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) voted to extend its STAR bond legislation for a proposed stadium development project. It’s their push to lure both the Chiefs and Royals across state lines. The deadline to submit a formal proposal has now been pushed from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with a key checkpoint added, a completed plan must be presented to the Kansas Commerce Department by December 31, 2025.
This extension is no afterthought. Chiefs officials, including Donovan, had asked for more time, citing sluggish bureaucratic responses and the need for serious planning. Kansas lawmakers agreed but also added a new structure to avoid open-ended delays. In essence, this move gives Kansas breathing room to firm up an ambitious vision, a $3 billion domed stadium, practice facility, and year-round entertainment complex.
Kansas officials see this project as a way to lock in a future with Patrick Mahomes as the centerpiece. The proposed facility would not only modernize the game-day experience. But open Kansas City to Super Bowl bids and year-round events. It’s a vision Mahomes could thrive in and one that could define his legacy.
For fans, it’s a strange paradox, Kansas offers a new dream. Missouri holds the old soul. But the Chiefs are a billion-dollar franchise run like a tech company. And that makes Kansas’s flexibility extremely appealing. The Mahomes window is now a planning clock.
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