As the Kansas City Chiefs push towards a natural grass surface, the decision stands in contrast to the decision taken by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and other NFL owners who continue to back artificial turf.

The Chiefs announced in December 2025 their plans to relocate from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a $3 billion state-of-the-art domed stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas, which is expected to open by 2031.

“We had designed the building to be able to do either (turf or grass),” Donovan said during the Chiefs training camp press conference on July 29, according to  Pete Grathoff of The Kansas City Star. “Our preference, and we stated this publicly, is grass. We want to figure that out. If you’re asking me today, we feel pretty strong that we’re going to be playing on natural grass.”

According to Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star, Donovan said that the building is already designed to accommodate both surfaces as necessary for specific occasions.

He pointed to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, an indoor rugby venue designed by Kansas City architectural firm Populous, as an example of an enclosed stadium having a natural grass playing field.

Populous is the same firm involved in the Chiefs’ new project, which is also set to feature a translucent ETFE roof and successfully grow natural grass indoors 

“In New Zealand, there are two rugby stadiums today,” Donovan said, according to  Pete Grathoff of The Kansas City Star. “They play on them today. They grow grass indoors. So the technology is there, right? So you just got to figure out: can it adapt to our climate, our building, etc., etc. The building is designed today to be a grass field.”

While the Chiefs still have years before the move, their commitment to natural grass could influence future stadium projects and reignite the NFL's ongoing debate over playing surfaces.

Chiefs' new stadium gets strong endorsement from Andy Reid

The head coach of the Chiefs, Andy Reid, expressed excitement about the new facility that will offer modern innovations, including a natural grass playing surface, despite being fully enclosed, that allows hosting major events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.

“From the coach’s standpoint, I think that’s a beautiful thing," Reid said, according to another article by Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. "Opportunity to have a first-class stadium here, and with all the modern innovations that have come out in stadium building, it will be there. And so I think that’s a beautiful thing when it’s all said and done.”

With Reid publicly backing the project, the Chiefs could set a new benchmark by using technology to make natural grass work in a fully enclosed stadium.

Do you think natural grass gives teams a competitive advantage over artificial turf? Join the discussion.

Read more at Dallas Cowboys Community.

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi