St. Joseph, Mo.—Jan. 15, 2014—The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University has approved a contract amendment that will keep the summer training camp of the Kansas City Chiefs in St. Joseph for three more years, through 2017. The contract also includes two additional extension terms of one year each at the option of both the Chiefs and Missouri Western.
"We are thrilled to be the 'Summer Training Camp Home of the Kansas City Chiefs' for the next three years," said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western's president. "As a campus, we have benefited from the increased exposure of the training camp and from physical improvements like the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex that would not have been possible without the support of the Chiefs. The St. Joseph region has also benefited from the thousands of fans who have visited training camp during the last five years."
"We were pleased we were able to reach an agreement with Missouri Western State University," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "As an organization, we've really enjoyed the relationships and the support that we have received from the St. Joseph community and Missouri Western. It's a privilege for us and our fan base to continue to hold camp in Chiefs Kingdom."
"From a football perspective, continuing to hold camp at Missouri Western State University makes sense for us," Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. "The school and the community take great care of us, the people are phenomenal and it provides our team the resources and facilities necessary to build momentum towards the season. We are excited to be back."
Dr. Vartabedian credited a five-way partnership between Missouri Western, the Chiefs, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County and the State of Missouri for bringing the Chiefs to St. Joseph initially, and for bringing them back for at least three more years.
"I am very appreciative of everyone who has worked so hard to make this a reality," Dr. Vartabedian said. "My thanks to Mayor Bill Falkner, County Commissioners Harry Roberts, Dan Hausman and Ron Hook and past Commissioner R.T. Turner for having the vision to see what hosting the Chiefs training camp can do for our region. On the state level, Gov. Jay Nixon, Sen. Rob Schaaf and past Sen. Charlie Shields have been special champions of this project, and we appreciate their support. I also want to thank Mark Donovan and his staff at the Chiefs, our Board of Governors Chair Dirck Clark and Athletics Director Kurt McGuffin for working so hard over these past few months to bring about this extension."
Photos from Training Camp at MWSU.
"Hosting the Chiefs' annual training camp has been of tremendous value to the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, and the region as a whole," said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. "I am pleased that the Chiefs will continue to make Missouri Western State University their summer home and that the State of Missouri could assist in securing this commitment."
"It's an honor to work alongside Missouri Western, Buchanan County and the state to help continue the partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs, helping them reach their goal of winning another Super Bowl by providing them with the finest training camp facility in the National Football League," said Bill Falkner, St. Joseph's mayor.
Under the contract extension, Missouri Western will design and install improvements to the practice fields used by the Chiefs, acquire and use certain equipment to maintain the fields, and reimburse the Chiefs for some expenses related to preparing and maintaining the practice fields. The extension will also freeze the Chiefs' food costs at 2014 levels for the next three years and provide additional residence hall space and additional security. Other conditions of the original 2009 contract remain the same.
A study by the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau estimated that the approximately 40,000 visitors to training camp last year had a local economic impact of about $6.3 million.
The Kansas City Chiefs have held training camp at Missouri Western every year since 2010.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit **www.missouriwestern.edu*. *
