[KC Chiefs.com] The NFL’s Super Bowl – considered to be among the most prestigious sporting events in the world – is coming to Kansas City. Today, in a vote taken at the fall session of the league’s annual meeting, NFL owners passed a proposal to bring the NFL’s championship game to Kansas City in a year between 2012 and 2021. The actual date will be at the discretion of the National Football League. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced the passing of the proposal in Kansas City early this afternoon.
“We are very grateful for the action taken by the membership of the National Football League,” said Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who made the proposal to the membership, but was quick to pay tribute to the work of many people in the organization to bring the Super Bowl here including his son Clark, the organization’s Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board Jack Steadman and Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but the foresight of the membership on this matter is much appreciated.”
The awarding of the Super Bowl was contingent on two key elements, said Hunt. Arrowhead Stadium, which opened in ’72 and is one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL now, must be renovated and would include a climate-controlling “Rolling Roof” structure. The awarding of a Super Bowl would also require the city and the team to meet all the bid specifications laid out by the league.
The Chiefs are currently in negotiations with the Jackson County Sports Authority to extend the team’s lease at Arrowhead to 25 years, as part of an extensive renovation of the stadium that will include the Rolling Roof structure to provide a climate-controlled facility.
