Olathe officials worked in secret for 2 years to score Chiefs facilities

Olathe officials worked under a nondisclosure agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs as part of an effort to bring the NFL team to town — keeping plans under wraps for two years.

Monday’s announcement from state officials regarding the incentive agreement to help build a $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County and a training facility and headquarters in Olathe lifted the restrictions to keep the plans a secret.

“We’ve been pursuing this for almost two years now, we’ve just been under an NDA (nondisclosure agreement) so we couldn’t disclose what we’re working on, and we are really excited to bring this to fruition,” Olathe Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim McKee said. “There are so many different aspects on how this might be beneficial to our community.”

Efforts to bring the practice facility and headquarters came through a partnership between the Chamber, the Olathe School District and the city of Olathe, McKee said.

The city of Olathe declined to comment further on negotiations with the Chiefs.

“I think people thought it was a long shot,” he said. “You wanted to scream up on a mountain top that this was coming, but we had to keep it under wraps. I can’t tell you how excited we all are and the community is.”

The new team headquarters and a state-of-the art practice facility will feature a mixed-use development surrounding the site that will feature entertainment, dining, shopping, office, hotel and residential properties, hoping to mirror similar projects in Dallas and Minnesota, McKee said.

“I visited Minnesota about a year ago during this pursuit and that’s really what they want to model after,” he said.

In Minnesota, developers alongside the Minnesota Vikings developed Vikings Lakes — a 200-acre mixed-use site near the NFL team’s training facility that features a community trail, hotel and conference center, sports medicine research institute, health care facilities, commercial offices, apartments and retail.

While a site is picked for the training facility and headquarters, McKee and the city of Olathe declined to confirm a specific location at this time.

“The Chiefs are very — and I appreciate this — they are very cautious in regard to putting anything out,” he said. “In regard to location, renderings, those types of things, they want to make sure anything they disclose, they can follow up and complete.”

“This is just the beginning. … More and more will come out in the next 30 to 60 days.”

Olathe would pledge tax dollars

In the next 60 days, the Olathe City Council has to conduct a public hearing, vote and adopt an ordinance that would pledge all new incremental general sales tax generated within the Sales Tax and Revenue, or STAR bonds program area, to the project.

STAR Bonds are designed to fund regional attractions by paying back developers with future sales tax revenue generated by tourists. The legislation authorizes Kansas to potentially issue STAR bonds to pay for up to 70% of the cost of the stadium and would be repaid over 30 years.

Bringing the training facility and headquarters to Olathe is not only exciting for the business community, but for the schools as well, McKee said.

“There are partnerships that could be created with the Chiefs. One of those partners is our school district, and how the Chiefs currently work with kids promoting health and wellness, I think that will continue in that regard,” he said.

Expanding sports medicine programs and supporting sports teams are a few opportunities that could grow with the NFL team building a home in the community, McKee added.

Olathe Public Schools Superintendent Brent Yeager said in a written statement that the Chiefs coming to town is an exciting opportunity and a “moment of pride” for students, families, staff and residents.

“We recognize the potential this move brings not only in terms of economic growth and community visibility, but also in the possibilities for meaningful partnerships that support student learning and community engagement,” Yeager said.

Olathe residents respond

Johnson County Chiefs fans seem to be celebrating the news about their NFL team coming to town.

“I’m really excited we could keep the Chiefs here in the Kansas City region,” Olathe Chamber of Commerce CEO McKee said. “It wasn’t just an Olathe or KCK reason, it was keeping them here.”

“I think it will just continue to build this area,” Olathe resident Sadie Rawson said. “I feel kind of sad because Arrowhead is so nostalgic, but I’ll be proud to have the Chiefs call Kansas home.”

Olathe resident and real estate agent Chris Dowell said that the Chiefs coming to town could bring more businesses and more events happening in the city.

“I think this is going to be an experience,” he said. “I’m excited about a lot of things the practice facilities bring to the community. I’ve seen what they’ve done in Minnesota and in Dallas, I’m excited about what could come to Olathe.”

“People are going to go there and not just go to the facilities, but have a great time … Plus it’s going to be in our backyard, that’s another plus.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM.