Oct 12, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of fireworks exploding prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas to play 2024 home games at Chiefs, SKC venues

Kansas football will relocate from Lawrence, Kan., to the Kansas City metropolitan area for the 2024 season.

The Jayhawks will be unable to play on campus as David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium undergoes a massive renovation, so their first two home games will be played at Children’s Mercy Park — the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City in Kansas City, Kan.

Kansas’ four Big 12 home games will be played at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, across the state line in Missouri.

“This is an exciting move for our team as these are two well respected and exciting venues to watch a sporting event,” Kansas head coach Lance Leipold said in a statement. “I’m confident our fans will be able to create a ‘home field’ that our players will be energized to play in.”

The Kansas City area is roughly 40 miles east of the university’s Lawrence campus.

Kansas will face FCS member Lindenwood on Aug. 29 and UNLV on Sept. 14 at Children’s Mercy Park. The home games at Arrowhead will feature TCU on Sept. 28, Houston on Oct. 19, Iowa State on Nov. 9 and Colorado on Nov. 23.

The Big 12 stuck with a nine-game conference schedule for the 2024 season despite expanding to 16 teams.

–Field Level Media

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs plan for limited fans; Bears shut gates

The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs announced Monday they intend on having fans at games at 22 percent of capacity inside Arrowhead Stadium when the 2020 season begins.

The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, announced that Soldier Field will be closed to fans when play kicks off.

The Chiefs are scheduled to play host to the NFL’s first game in 2020, a Thursday night contest, Sept. 10 against the Houston Texans.

The Kansas City organization’s statement that it plans to have fans at games in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic was made in conjunction with the NFL as well as Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, along with input from the city’s health director and EMS medical director.

Single-game tickets for the first three home games will go on sale Aug. 24. Season tickets holders will be given first priority to purchase tickets in order of tenure.

All tickets will be sold in grouped pods, with the ability to purchase as many as six tickets in the same pod. Fans can only attend with “known guests” sitting in their purchased pod. If any tickets remain after the sale to season-ticket holders, they will be made available to residents of Jackson County, where Arrowhead Stadium is located.

There is the potential for capacity limits to be adjusted as the season progresses.

Masks will be required at all times except when fans are eating or drinking. All bags will be prohibited into Arrowhead Stadium, while smoking, chewing tobacco and sunflower seeds will be prohibited. Cash will not be accepted for point-of-purchase sales.

The Bears released a statement that read, in part, “After discussing a draft plan with City health officials, the Bears and the City of Chicago agreed the health metrics show that it is not the right time to welcome fans back to Soldier Field.

“The health and safety of the city’s residents and fans of the Bears will always take priority. The team and City will continue to monitor the environment and believe there can be a sound plan in place to bring fans back to Soldier Field once it is deemed safe and appropriate. Until then, Bears home games will not include in-person fans.”

–Field Level Media