The Chiefs practiced with 2,000 fans at Arrowhead. Masks were required, not always worn
If their presence is allowed for football during a COVID-19 pandemic, the fans will definitely come.
That was affirmed in Kansas City Saturday as approximately 2,000 season-ticket members showed up in the morning for Day 9 of the Chiefs’ training camp at Arrowhead Stadium.
The event marked the first time during this year’s camp that the Super Bowl champions had allowed fans to attend a practice.
“It was good to have an opportunity to get out there today, had a few fans there,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “The organization has done a great job of making sure they’re doing it the right way, giving the fans an opportunity to participate. They brought some energy. I know the guys felt it; they were vibing off that energy.”
Center Austin Reiter agreed.
“I was pretty impressed with the noise level today from the couple thousand — one to two thousand — we had today,” Reiter said.
Fans cheered when players came out of the tunnel areas and applauded virtually every play. It was a festive atmosphere.
But there were numerous reminders around Arrowhead that the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says COVID-19 has now claimed more than 174,000 lives in the U.S. alone.
The Chiefs limited the number of fans who were allowed to attend and installed numerous protocols with safety and social-distancing measures in mind.
Masks were supposed to be mandatory for fans, just as they will be when the Chiefs allow 22% of Arrowhead’s normal capacity to attend their first three home games of the season, starting with their Sept. 10 opener against Houston. But some spectators were observed either wearing masks improperly or not wearing them at all, even when they weren’t actively eating or drinking — the only exceptions the Chiefs have said they allow.
Fans seated in the stands were separated throughout the vast venue, which can hold more than 70,000, by empty rows of seats. Fans were also prohibited from physically interacting with players — no high-fives or autographs.
Throughout the concourse areas, signs were painted on the ground showing people where to stand in observance of the requisite six-foot distance from others. Similar signs were painted on the floor of men’s restrooms; stalls were clearly marked “Open” or “Closed,” with spaces in between. Signs had also been placed on the mirrors above the sinks, asking fans to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
It was a lot to take in, but Saturday’s event at Arrowhead Stadium took place as a majority of NFL teams continue to conduct training camp without fans.
Some teams, such as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, have announced in the past week that they will not allow fans to attend their home games for at least the first few weeks of the regular season.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, will hold another season-ticket member event next Saturday, Aug. 29, and open it for up even more fans than the one they hosted this weekend. Instead of 2,000, they will allow 5,000 spectators next weekend.
That number will soon climb higher still: At 22 percent of usual stadium capacity, close to 17,000 people will be in attendance for the Chiefs’ Sept. 10 season opener against the Texans.
Center Austin Reiter embraces the opportunity to play in front of the Chiefs fans again.
“I think 17,000 is going to be pretty loud,” he said. “I think definitely there’s noise there, which would be nice. A quiet game is probably going to be a little awkward, but I’m pretty excited because I think we’re definitely going to have some good noise there with the limited capacity we’ll have.”
Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu agreed.
“I think they’re so important to the game, especially here in Kansas City,” Mathieu said. “They’re like that extra element that we feed off.
“I think it’s a good deal that we are going to have some fans in some kind of capacity. But also, I truly believe that the Chiefs and the NFL will take the right steps to help those people stay safe.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Left tackle Eric Fisher (concussion) returned to the field Saturday in a limited capacity. The Chiefs said after practice that Fisher remains in the NFL concussion protocol but is allowed to return to work. Look for the Chiefs to ease him back in before he’s fully cleared.
Defensive end Frank Clark, who has been battling a stomach virus, was back on the field after missing the past two practices. Rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who was given Friday off to rest, and tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (leg) also returned to practice.
The Chiefs were without wide receiver Tyreek Hill (hamstring), linebacker Damien Wilson (undisclosed), offensive lineman Martinas Rankin (knee), Deon Yelder (groin), Mike Danna (calf), defensive end Alex Okafor (calf) and defensive end Demone Harris (back).
Hill, in particular, is considered day to day.
Recently signed safety Adrian Colbert made his first appearance and is wearing No. 30.
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic with the exception of the Chiefs’ two season ticket holder events — prohibit the reporting of personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays, situational plays and statistics.
Even with fans in attendance Saturday, the practice wasn’t considered fully open. So, reporting restrictions applied. Still allowed, however, were general observations about head-turning and notable plays:
• After three straight days of pads, the Chiefs were in shells and went with their second 10-10-10 team sessions of training camp. The segments, which typically connote a light and fast practice, break down to 10 minutes each of first-team offense against second-team defense, second-team offense against first-team defense and special teams drills.
• Safety Juan Thornill participated in his first set of team drills since returning from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list several days ago. In previous practices, Thornhill, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Chiefs’ 2019 season finale, took part in stretching and individual position drills only. But his presence provided a hint that the second-year pro could be getting closer to 100 percent, barring a setback.
• Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson wowed the crowd with a one-handed catch in full stride down the right sideline. Robinson reached out with his right hand to pull in a pass from Patrick Mahomes into his body. As an encore, Robinson caught another deep pass from Mahomes down the middle of the field. The fifth-year receiver has enjoyed a strong training camp.
• Defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage during team drills, marking the second consecutive day he’d done so. The 6-foot-7, 289-pound Kpassangnon, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 with career-high statistics, is entering a contract year.
• Safety Tyrann Mathieu, cornerback Charvarius Ward and linebacker Ben Niemann each recorded an interception off the second-team offense. Niemann’s interception came off Kpassagnon’s tip and would have likely resulted in a pick-six during a game.
This story was originally published August 22, 2020 at 3:12 PM.
