Arrowhead Stadium is once again just Arrowhead Stadium. The Kansas City Chiefs and GEHA announced Wednesday that the venue is dropping the "GEHA Field" name it has carried since 2021, reverting to the identity fans have known since the stadium opened in 1972. GEHA isn't going anywhere as a team partner, but its name is coming off the building itself.
According to KMBC, the Chiefs and GEHA jointly announced that Arrowhead Stadium will once again be known by that single name. "This mutual decision reflects a shared commitment to honoring the rich history of Arrowhead Stadium and the Chiefs organization," Mark Donovan said. The 2021 deal that created "GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium" had marked the first naming-rights partnership in the venue's long history, per the outlet's report.
KMBC attributed similar language to Raj Vavilala. GEHA will remain a partner of the Chiefs and continue to spearhead the Chiefs Military Mission, which supports active-duty service members, veterans and their families. The health plan provider is also continuing its support of the annual TeamSmile dental care event, the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim program and the Kingdom Kids program, the outlet reported.
Why the Arrowhead Name Was Never Truly Gone
The GEHA sponsorship never fully erased the Arrowhead name, a reflection of how protective the franchise had been over the brand. Before signing with GEHA in March 2021, the Chiefs spent 15 years searching for a stadium naming-rights sponsor while insisting that any deal keep "Arrowhead" in the title, according to Chiefs Digest. The resulting agreement was a 10-year deal running through January 31, 2031, timed to align with the scheduled expiration of the team's lease at the Truman Sports Complex.
A Bigger Move Is Already in Motion
That lease expiration date matters more than ever now. Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt announced on a Monday that the franchise will leave Arrowhead and relocate across the state line to a new domed stadium as part of a broader Kansas development totaling at least $4 billion, once the Jackson County lease runs out in January 2031, as reported by FOX Sports. The new domed facility is designed to let the region host major national events like Super Bowls and Final Fours.
How Missouri Lost the Stadium Fight
The road to that decision ran through a failed ballot measure. Jackson County voters rejected Question 1 in April 2024, a 40-year sales tax extension that would have provided funding toward an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead, according to KCUR. Voters defeated the tax proposal for both the Chiefs and a downtown Royals ballpark by a 58% to 42% margin.
Kansas moved fast to capitalize. State lawmakers passed legislation in June 2024 authorizing Sales Tax and Revenue bonds that can finance up to 70% of construction costs for a new stadium and surrounding entertainment district, per The Beacon. Those STAR bonds work by using future sales tax revenue generated within the development zone to pay down construction debt.
Missouri tried to counter. Lawmakers convened a special legislative session in June 2025 to introduce the Show-Me Sports Investment Act, offering state bonding incentives covering up to 50% of stadium costs, KCUR reported. The effort came after the failure of local county ballot measures and ultimately did not keep the Chiefs in Missouri.
Arrowhead's Long History Under the Lights
Whatever happens next, Arrowhead's place in NFL history isn't going anywhere. The stadium first opened on August 12, 1972, making it the third-oldest active stadium in the NFL behind Soldier Field and Lambeau Field, and the oldest facility in the American Football Conference, according to KC Yesterday. The venue was part of the Truman Sports Complex.
A Brief Detour to 'Kansas City Stadium'
The GEHA name wasn't the only branding Arrowhead shed this year. The venue was temporarily renamed "Kansas City Stadium" over the summer for the 2026 World Cup, per StadiumDB.com. Crews then had roughly 28 days to convert the venue from a World Cup soccer pitch back to an NFL field. The Chiefs also had an August 15 preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, with Hoodline previously covering the frantic field conversion that followed.
What Becomes of the Truman Sports Complex
Beyond the name change, bigger questions loom over the 400-acre site the Chiefs will eventually leave behind. Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota formed a task force of local business and community leaders in March 2026 to devise redevelopment plans for the Truman Sports Complex once the Chiefs and Royals vacate their stadiums, according to KCUR. Discussion has included entertainment and tailgating uses, while the entire complex could potentially be taken down.
For now, the marquee outside the stadium will simply read what it always has, even as the Chiefs count down toward the next chapter of their franchise across the state line.
