Local residents offer thoughts on Chiefs return to St. Joseph next month

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to return to St. Joseph next month for training camp, and the community is ready for the increased foot traffic that goes with it.

On Monday, the Chiefs and Missouri Western State University agreed to a multi-year extension ahead of the team’s 15th summer visit to Western for training camp in July.

Come July 22 when training camp practices open to the pubic, fans from in and around St. Joseph are expected to flock to campus, creating economic opportunities for local businesses close by whether franchises or small businesses. 

At Il Lazzarone, a local pizza business located at 1628 Frederick Avenue, one employee is looking forward to the increased business during the nearly four-week timespan the Chiefs will be in town, whether that’s tending to fans or potentially a player.

“We’re definitely really excited to have them come back for training camp. I think it’s going to do a lot for the community and we’re just glad to be able to serve them and bring in a lot of good company and have them around,” St. Joseph resident and Il Lazzarone employee Kalya Sansom said.

Weather is certainly going to be a factor in how great attendance will be at camp this summer with peak summer temperatures typically at play in July and August. Enduring high temperatures while attending training camp practices can pose risks for heat-related illness. Emergency medical personnel are on hand every day at training camp, but some locals don’t bother taking the risk.

“Too hot and too many people,” local resident Juel Pierce said. “We’re glad they come to St. Joe and we hope they keep coming, we probably won’t.”

Another local resident, Rick Meyer, echoed the same sentiment as Pierce, saying the reason he avoids training camp is because of the heat. However, Meyer, who was escaping the heat on Monday afternoon inside of East Hills Mall, acknowledges the Chiefs value to the community.

“It’s a good thing for the community because people come up and watch it and they spend money in our community… and it’s been good for the college because they got upgraded facilities,” Meyer said.

Chiefs training camp practices will take place from July 22 through Aug. 13. The full training camp schedule can be found at newspressnow.com.