Executives are hiring a research firm to help the club decide on its future home

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – As the Kansas City Chiefs continue to explore their options for the future home of the Chiefs, the organization has hired outside help to help in the process.

Executives announced Thursday that they are hiring CSL International, a third-party research firm that specializes in sports and entertainment. CSL will conduct market research through surveys, interviews and focus groups of key stakeholders as executives approach their post-2031 home decision.

That’s when the organization’s lease agreement with the Truman sports complex expires. In April, Jackson County voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax extension that would have renovated Arrowhead Stadium and cleared the way for the Chiefs’ neighbor, the Kansas City Royals, to move downtown.

Both teams are now continuing to search for plans and evaluating several options.

“As we continue to explore options and choose a solution that is best for the organization and our fans long-term, the next step in that process is to gather input from stakeholders on various aspects of the stadium experience — whether it’s a remodel or a new build.” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said in a release. “CSL professionals are leaders in this field and we are delighted that they will be conducting this research over the coming months. The results will give us better insight into how season ticket holders, fans, partners and package holders experience game day and allow them to share their thoughts on how we look to the future.”

READ MORE: Rumors abound: Where do Royals-Chiefs stadium talks stand?

Executives said the CSL studies would be carried out in the coming weeks. They will focus on ideas for one of two different potential projects: a redevelopment of Arrowhead Stadium or a newly constructed stadium.

“We will combine insights from more than 10 new and updated NFL stadium studies over the past decade with direct market testing to provide executives with clear, concise and actionable data that is grounded in market realities,” said CSL President Ben Wrigley.

In October, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said the team was gathering information from both sides of the state line to create options for a new stadium and possibly a new practice facility.

“We’re hoping to have some direction by spring,” Hunt said Oct. 16 of the stadium’s construction potential. the direction in which we are moving.”

Hunt emphasized that the real deadline is February 2031, when the organization’s lease with the Truman Sports Complex expires. After a failed vote in April, Kansas lawmakers passed the STAR bond bill with the help of Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, clearing the way for the Chiefs or Royals to move to the Sunflower State.

Last week after winning the election, Missouri Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe said he and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas agreed on at least one thing: They want to keep the Chiefs and the Royal Family in Missouri.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.