ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Western State University Athletic Director Andy Carter spoke with the News-Press on Thursday morning to preview the return of the Kansas City Chiefs to campus.
MoWest has played host to the Chiefs Training Camp since 2010, offering fans from throughout the region a chance to see the football stars up close as they sharpen their skills before the start of the NFL season.
Since taking on the athletic director position in 2022, Carter said he and other university staff have come to develop a feeling when training camp is just around the corner.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it,” he said. “My staff will basically be devoting most of their day starting tomorrow to camp. But it’s exciting.”
Starting on Wednesday, Aug. 29, the four-time Super Bowl champions will host live practice on the Mosaic Training Fields behind Spratt Stadium, with added autograph sessions for different position groups throughout the team’s three-week stay.
Having prepared for the annual training camp over the course of several weeks, Carter emphasized that MWSU, the Chiefs and the city of St. Joseph have all taken great care to make sure the experience is one attendees will never forget.
“We’ve got tremendous coordination and collaboration with the Chiefs, with the city, with our police department, with Mosaic as the health provider,” he said. “If there are issues, whether its weather or health-related, we’re all talking and making sure that we’re providing the best experience for those that come.”
Going on to offer recommendations for new and returning fans alike, the athletic director encouraged attendees to plan ahead by paying attention to the daily training schedule, when days will have an admission fee and to prepare parking tickets prior to arriving on campus.
Food and drink vendors will be available during the three-week experience, alongside a Chiefs team store and a kids zone on Craig Field. Spectators will also be able to view the practice from various seating locations within the camp.
“The people that I see having the most fun come with expectation and they don’t just sit in one place,” Carter said. “They kind of move around and they see different things and they follow what’s going. They interact and engage … It’s a good time if you come to have a good time.”
The first practice open to the general public is on Thursday, Aug. 30, with more information about the training camp schedule available online.
As of Thursday, July 23, tickets are still available for purchase.
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