Report: No St. Joseph for Chiefs as NFL tells teams to hold training camps at home
In an apparent nod to safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, teams won’t be heading out of town for NFL training camps this year, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
That means the Chiefs would be using their practice facility at the Truman Sports Complex for camp for the first time. The facility includes three outdoor fields, including one with artificial turf, and an indoor facility.
The Chiefs have trained at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri since 2010. Before that, the team held camp in River Falls, Wisconsin, and William Jewell College in Liberty.
In February, the Chiefs announced an agreement with Missouri Western to keep camp there through the 2022 season, with an option for two more years.
Missouri Western had planned upgrades for the 2020 camp, including renovating the dormitory where the players and coaches stay and adding new seating on the north end of the practice facility.
“Our experience here has been tremendous across the last 10 years,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said as camp got underway in 2019. “The staff here does such a great job. The facilities really lay out well for us. (Coach Andy Reid) enjoys being here.”
It’s unknown whether fans will be permitted to attend this year.
Last year, more than 62,000 fans attended Chiefs training camp, about double the attendance of the previous year. A huge fan following would be expected this year with the Chiefs coming off their first Super Bowl championship in 50 years.
Training camp dates have not been announced, but camp usually begins in late July.
The Chiefs didn’t comment on the ESPN report.
Herbie Teope contributed to this story.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 4:18 PM.