By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A spokesman for the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau says Chiefs Training Camp is a tourism bonus during the busy summer vacation months.
Christian Mengel says many Kansas City Chiefs fans venture to the Pony Express Museum, Patee House, and the Jesse James home after attending training camp on the Missouri Western campus.
“And those sites have a noticeable increase in Chiefs jerseys and what we’d like to do is to see that spread out a little bit more to the things that maybe they don’t yet know,” Mengel tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
One of those venues is Inspire U Children’s Museum in downtown St. Joseph that opened this year.
Mengel says the visitors bureau also touts attractions such as Robidoux Row, built upon land owned by St. Joseph founder, Joseph Robidoux, and touted as the oldest apartment house west of the Mississippi River.
“The goal is to get them to stay here longer.”
Mengal acknowledges restaurants likely benefit the most from Chiefs Training Camp.
“Because if they can get a crowd of Chiefs fans in, I mean that can change the feeling of their whole summer, honestly, if they get packed out during this time,” Mengal says.
Convenience stores and gas stations also benefit from the travelers who come to St. Joseph for Chiefs Training Camp.
Mengal says for the visitors bureau, the training camp on the Missouri Western State University campus adds a big bonus for an already busy tourism season in St. Joseph.
“It’s hard to really put into words what training camp has meant for this community over the years,” Mengal says.
The Chiefs moved training camp from River Falls, Wisconsin to St. Jospeh in 2010. The team has sequestered in St. Joseph every year since with the exception of the COVID year; 15 out of the past 16 years. It was incredible timing for the city.
“And even though they’ve had training camps in other destinations in years past, the 15 years that we’ve had them have been the most important 15 years and the most successful 15 years in franchise history,” according to Mengal.
Mengal doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“With people like Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes we know every single year we have a chance for the Super Bowl,” Mengal says. “A Super Bowl run starts every single year right here in our community.”
Mengal says St. Joseph residents don’t take that run lightly.
“We get it right in our backyard,” Mengal says. “So, definitely don’t take it for granted as a resident that we get the most entertaining team in the United States right here in our community.”
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ