OLATHE, Kan. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs have named Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell as owner’s representative for their new Olathe headquarters and practice facility.
The announcement, made Thursday, July 16, marks one of the most significant project management decisions yet in the Chiefs’ broader relocation to Kansas.
The move includes a planned $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County and a sprawling mixed-use campus in Olathe, targeted to open ahead of the 2031 NFL season.
What Burns & McDonnell will do
The team said Burns & McDonnell will join CAA ICON to serve as the franchise’s trusted advisor throughout the development of the new facilities, which will support both business and football operations.
The firms will provide independent oversight and experienced leadership from early planning through construction and occupancy, according to team leaders.
The Chiefs noted that the firms will coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders to keep the project on budget and on schedule.
“We are extremely excited to have Burns & McDonnell join our project team as owner’s representative for our new practice facility and headquarters that we will be building in Olathe,” Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Kenny said. “As a local, employee-owned firm with a track record of project success around the world, we know they have the right mix of local knowledge as well as global experience to help us navigate the upcoming design and construction phases of a truly unique year-round home for our football team and staff.”
Jon Wright, senior vice president and general manager of the Buildings Market at Burns & McDonnell, called the project a milestone for the region.
“The Chiefs have had an extraordinary impact on our region for generations, and this investment represents an exciting new chapter for the organization and the Kansas City community,” Wright added. “As a Kansas City-based company, it is a privilege to help bring that vision to life by providing experienced project leadership from planning through construction. We look forward to working alongside the Chiefs and the entire project team to deliver a world-class facility for the organization, its staff and Chiefs Kingdom.”
The Chiefs said additional announcements related to the design and construction of the Olathe facility are expected in the coming weeks.
A map released by the Kansas City Chiefs shows where it plans to build a new stadium in...
A map released by the Kansas City Chiefs shows where it plans to build a new stadium in Wyandotte County and a new headquarters and practice facility in Olathe.(Kansas City Chiefs)
About the Olathe campus
The Chiefs’ new headquarters and practice facility will sit on about 155 acres near the intersection of College Blvd. and Ridgeview Rd. in Olathe - currently undeveloped land that the team has fully secured.
The project is envisioned as far more than a practice complex.
City leaders and Chiefs President Mark Donovan have described it as a mixed-use destination modeled after pro sports campuses like the Dallas Cowboys’ “The Star” in Frisco, Texas, and the Minnesota Vikings’ facility - featuring high-end restaurants, hotels and shopping.
The Chiefs, the City of Olathe and the Olathe School District also entered discussions in March about a potential partnership tied to the site, including possible student access to the facility’s sports medicine staff and expanded flag football programming - though no formal agreement has been signed.
How it’s being financed
In February, the Olathe City Council unanimously approved an ordinance pledging local sales and hotel tax revenue to help finance the project through Kansas STAR Bonds - a special state financing tool.
Documents show the pledge includes 1% of the city’s general sales and use tax, 0.5% of Johnson County sales tax and 7% of hotel tax collected within the development zone for up to 30 years.
Supporters argue the city has nothing to lose: the land currently generates zero tax revenue. Critics questioned the timing and whether the land could be developed another way.
Importantly, the STAR Bonds are not a debt of the city.
The city is not required to levy additional taxes or make budget appropriations, and the bonds do not count against the city’s debt limitations.
The city’s pledge only takes effect if the headquarters are built within the project area and bonds are issued by Dec. 31, 2030.
Land located northwest of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road is the site of the proposed new...
Land located northwest of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road is the site of the proposed new Kansas City Chiefs practice facility.(KCTV5)
The bigger picture: Chiefs’ move to Kansas
The Olathe headquarters is one half of the Chiefs’ landmark relocation from Missouri to Kansas, announced in December 2025.
The team also plans to build a $3 billion domed stadium near the Kansas Speedway at 126th and State Ave. in Wyandotte County.
As of May 2026, the Chiefs confirmed they have secured all land needed for the Olathe site and hold a majority of the land needed for the Wyandotte County stadium.
Kansas also passed legislation earlier this year to create a Kansas Sports Facilities Authority - an 11-member board that would oversee the stadium and headquarters projects, provide legal structure for financing and give the state enforcement power if the team were to walk away from the deal.
Both the Olathe headquarters and the Wyandotte County stadium are scheduled to open for the 2031 NFL season.
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