Missouri Western confident Chiefs training camp will continue there
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Next year is the last year of the current contract that Missouri Western State University (MWSU) has with the Kansas City Chiefs for training camp.
“We’ve had some initial, kind of opening conversations if you will with the Kansas City Chiefs,” Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday. “We know, we’ve seen and talked with them that this is what Coach Reid loves. The players love the experience here.”
Tuesday, Head Coach Andy Reid didn’t go that far when it comes to whether the players love being in the city.
“But it builds a certain camaraderie as you go,” he said to reporters. “You’re eating together, you’re sleeping in the same building together. You can’t help but talk to each other, and in today’s world that’s a positive thing.”
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Wednesday, the team wouldn’t comment on camera. The questions about training camp come just a month after the Kansas State Legislature and Democratic Governor Laura Kelly approved revising Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bonds to try to get the Chiefs to move their stadium across the state line.
FOX4 asked Athletics Director Andy Carter whether he’s worried the team could move away from MWSU and train either at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium or a new stadium in the next decade.
“Even if something like that were to happen, there’s a lag time here,” Carter said. “So, three to five years is not going to change so much on our end.”
FOX4 asked a similar question to Mosaic Life Care Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mike Poore. That entity is the training camp presenting sponsor of the team. They’re also headquartered in the city.
“I believe that for the next several years, we should be safe to say that they’ll come here,” Poore said. “It’s always Coach Reid’s decision and ownership.”
Kennedy hesitated to say having the team here in late July and early August is a financial benefit.
“We do not make money per se on the Chiefs camp, but it has allowed us to make certain upgrades to our campus which benefits the university and particularly our students,” she said.
Kennedy says the benefits are more intangible to MWSU than they are financial. She added that typically, the negotiations won’t start until after the season.
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“If you think about that, usually it’s in March… right after the end of the season,” she continued. “Of course, we’re expecting another Super Bowl win, so they’ll have a little longer season than they might otherwise.”
Kennedy says the initial conversations have been very positive. Chiefs President Mark Donovan will answer questions from reporters Friday. The team’s training camp future and their stadium future will likely be discussed.
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