By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net
In 2010 the Kansas City Chiefs moved their training camp back to Missouri close to home in St. Joseph, Mo. This year the training camp host, Missouri Western State University, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Chiefs spending a month on their campus each year. Thanks to the team’s success on the field in 2018 that saw the team advance to the AFC Championship game Chiefs fans have been attending camp in record numbers.
The weekends at training camp have been packed with Chiefs fans more than normal due to only two available weekends for fans to make the trip to camp. The weekend of July 27-28 and Aug. 3-4 were the only two weekends for Chiefs fans to visit training camp this year. The team’s first pre-season game is set for Saturday, Aug, 10 then the team will break camp in St. Joseph on Thursday August 15. The team will then travel to the team’s second pre-season game on Aug. 17. The Chiefs will then finish preparing for the upcoming season at their practice facility at Arrowhead Stadium.
Saturday August 3rd was Family Fun Day at Chiefs training camp, one of only two days there is a charge to attend the team’s practice. The $5 admittance charge did little to keep fans from seeing their favorite team. Following the practice the team held an autograph session which included the reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was seen autographing everything from footballs, photos, bandannas and even his very own cereal boxes. Sunday, August 4th was KC Chiefs season ticket member day where Season ticket members got to take part in a breakfast before the team’s 2 hour, 40 minute practice. The Chiefs saw season ticket members ranging from their first season as members to those who have held season tickets since the team’s first season in Kansas City.
The increasing number of visitors to Chiefs training camp this year is a reminder of the rising expectations placed on the team who have won three straight AFC West division titles. The Chiefs will begin the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 8 on the road at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
