Chiefs

Royals alter schedule to pave way for Chiefs to open season on Thursday Night Football

With the Chiefs likely in consideration to be featured on the NFL’s opening night, the Royals are clearing the way.

The Royals announced Wednesday they are adjusting their schedule to free up the Truman Sports Complex on Thursday, Sept. 10, the anticipated date for the NFL’s season opener. To do so, the Royals will turn a four-game series against the A’s into three days, featuring a split doubleheader on Sept. 8.

That leaves nothing on the calendar for Sept. 10.

For now.

The NFL has not yet released the 2020 schedule — that should come next month — but the Super Bowl champions have been oft-featured on the season-opening Thursday Night Football date.

Before Wednesday’s schedule change, the Royals had home dates for that Thursday, and with a shared parking lot, it all but eliminated the Chiefs from consideration.

That hurdle has now been cleared.

While the dates and times have not yet been announced for 2020, the Chiefs’ eight home opponents are set — the Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Falcons, Panthers, Texans, Patriots and Jets.

Sam McDowell
The Kansas City Star
Sam McDowell is a columnist for The Star who has covered Kansas City sports for more than a decade. He has won national awards for columns, features and enterprise work. The Headliner Awards named him the 2024 national sports columnist of the year.
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