Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is one of the loudest and most iconic stadiums in the NFL. With a capacity of over 76,000, Arrowhead has developed a reputation for its raucous crowd and intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. But with hot summers and occasional early autumn heat in Kansas City, an important question arises – is Arrowhead Stadium air conditioned for fans comfort?
Background on Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972 and has been the home stadium for the Chiefs ever since. For nearly 50 years, Arrowhead has seen the Chiefs develop into one of the most successful franchises in the NFL with 2 Super Bowl wins, 15 Division titles, and 22 Playoff appearances. Originally known as Arrowhead Stadium, it was renamed GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in 2021 after the Chiefs signed a naming rights deal with GEHA insurance.
The stadium can hold 76,416 fans, making it the 28th largest stadium in the NFL. Arrowhead is renowned for having one of the best home field advantages in the league. Between 1990 and 2017, the Chiefs had a .782 winning percentage at home – the best home record in the NFL for that timespan. The loud, passionate crowds make it extremely difficult for visiting teams to operate their offenses.
Does Arrowhead Stadium Have Air Conditioning?
The short answer is no – Arrowhead Stadium does not have air conditioning for fans. Being an outdoor stadium, controlling air temperature and humidity is incredibly challenging. Most NFL teams that play in notoriously hot climates have also opted to not install full air conditioning in their stadiums.
Arrowhead does have some direct cooling systems in certain areas of the stadium. For example, the Chiefs administrative offices, locker rooms, and other premium spaces do have air conditioning. However, the bowl where the majority of fans sit does not have an AC system.
Without air conditioning, conditions at Arrowhead Stadium can get quite hot for fans during early season NFL games. Kansas City sees average highs in the 80s and sometimes 90s during September and October when most NFL games take place. The Chiefs have also started some regular seasons with afternoon games in August when temperatures were in the 90s and heat index values exceeded 100°F.
How Arrowhead Stadium Helps Keep Fans Cool
Although Arrowhead does not have AC, there are some measures in place to help keep fans as comfortable as possible on hot game days:
- Misting stations are located throughout the concourses where fans can cool off in the mist.
- Water monsters spray mist into the lower seating bowl during pre-game and throughout the game.
- Large drum fans blow air at the field level seats.
- The huge video boards help block some sun for fans and provide shade to certain areas.
- Cooling towels are available for purchase to wrap around necks.
- Free cups of ice are available at concessions stands.
- Bottled water is allowed inside the stadium to stay hydrated.
The combination of these measures and the fact that most games are played later in the day, evening, or at night helps mitigate some of the heat concerns. Additionally, Arrowhead Stadium’s signature loud crowd tends to make fans forget about the heat once the game starts.
Could Air Conditioning Be Added in the Future?
The main obstacles to installing a full air conditioning system at Arrowhead Stadium are cost and feasibility. Retrofitting an existing outdoor stadium that can hold over 76,000 people with air conditioning is an enormous and expensive undertaking.
Some estimates have put the cost of installing AC at over $100 million. The low humidity in Kansas City would help make AC feasible, but operating costs for utilities would also be very high during the NFL season.
However, as more new NFL stadiums begin to incorporate air conditioning like the Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium, adding AC to Arrowhead could become more realistic. Other existing stadiums have found ways to install cooling systems, such as the Miami Dolphins who put in AC at Hard Rock Stadium in 2015.
If the demand grows loud enough from Chiefs fans, the team ownership may consider taking on the challenge of installing air conditioning. For now, Arrowhead remains one of the iconic outdoor NFL experiences without modern cooling amenities.
Conclusion
Arrowhead Stadium does not currently have air conditioning for the main seating bowl where most fans are located. The outdoor design and massive size make retrofitting AC extremely difficult and expensive. However, Arrowhead does utilize other cooling methods like misting stations, fans, and chilling towels to help keep fans comfortable.
Adding air conditioning would require a huge investment, but could happen down the road if Chiefs fans call for it. For now, the stadium relies on its loud crowd, evening and late afternoon games, and spot cooling to create an exciting atmosphere rain or shine, heat or cold.