KANSAS CITY, Mo. — NFL teams will reportedly stay close to home for training camp this season, which means no trek to St. Joseph, Missouri for Chiefs for the 2020 season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday reported the NFL has decided teams must remain at home for training camps this summer. The decision is part of the league’s ongoing response to the COVID-10 pandemic.
The Chiefs were one of only 11 NFL franchises in 2019 that conducted their training camp away from their home training facility and headquarters. The club reached an agreement in February with Missouri Western State University to return to the campus in St. Joseph for training camp through the 2022 with an option through 2024.
The trip to St. Joseph is an annual rite of passage for the team and fans alike. The club set attendance records for its training camp last season. Anticipation for this year’s camp soared coming off the team’s victory in Super Bowl LIV. Training camp is a rare opportunity for fans to see players up close and is one of the most destinations for autograph seekers.
This year’s camp, however, expected to be more limited in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league’s decision to limit teams to their home facility likely signals an indication that fan access to training camp will also remain limited.
The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex where the Chiefs normally train features two grass fields and an artificial turf field but no permanent seating for fans. The club has brought in temporary seating the past for season ticket member events, but it remains unclear if the league or the club will allow any fan access this season.
