(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Chiefs training camp is off to strong start, and Missouri Western hopes attendance stays strong.
After the threat of the NFL lockout last year, and the flood, Western is hoping for bigger numbers this summer, to get major recognition for the campus.
The Chiefs camp at Missouri Western stirs a lot of excitement not only in St. Joseph, but also for new visitors from around the country.
"We ask them, 'You ever been to camp before?' 'No never been. We got the schedule early and planned it.' I think that's good. That's also good for St. Joe because they are coming in from, we've seen a lot of Iowa. We've seen a lot of Omaha and Nebraska people," says Kurt McGuffin, Director of Athletics for Missouri Western.
However, such an enormous event comes with a price.
Last year, the university spent more than $320,000.
"I think the biggest cost is personnel. We go out and we hire 20 students, mostly students, to trash detail, and all of the other detail," says McGuffin.
With so many visitors though, western is able to make some of that money back through parking and concessions, and the Chiefs help bring in some big sponsors.
"Most of our revenue comes from sponsorships. Heartland Health sponsors us, American Family does American Family fun day which is Saturday, and then others. We have other sponsorships," says McGuffin.
Last year, Western made more than $375,000 from camp, a difference of about $55,000, but says it isn't working for big profits in the end.
In fact, the university says the biggest goal is to break even.
"I don't think that's a bad thing, because really, we're making more on it from what we get from the media nationally. I read articles every day from camp, talking about Missouri Western. One article from Peter King, who writes for Sports Illustrated, ranked us the seventh best camp site in America," McGuffin says.
This year, with a visit from the Arizona Cardinals, Missouri Western could see some financial boosts.
Cardinals are paying for the stay, and the university is charging for the scrimmage game.
"I think if everything went really well, I think it could be a $75,000 to $100,000 profit for us, from just the Cardinals, and that'd be great for us."
With so many fans, it has the potential to bring a lot of revenue to the area as well.
"It's going to make a difference. Absolutely, because I know there's hotels being used, restaurants being used, and gas stations, those kinds of things," says R.T. Turner, Buchanan County Commissioner.
Missouri Western says additional profit made from Chiefs camp will be used as upkeep for the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.
After the threat of the NFL lockout last year, and the flood, Western is hoping for bigger numbers this summer, to get major recognition for the campus.
The Chiefs camp at Missouri Western stirs a lot of excitement not only in St. Joseph, but also for new visitors from around the country.
"We ask them, 'You ever been to camp before?' 'No never been. We got the schedule early and planned it.' I think that's good. That's also good for St. Joe because they are coming in from, we've seen a lot of Iowa. We've seen a lot of Omaha and Nebraska people," says Kurt McGuffin, Director of Athletics for Missouri Western.
However, such an enormous event comes with a price.
Last year, the university spent more than $320,000.
"I think the biggest cost is personnel. We go out and we hire 20 students, mostly students, to trash detail, and all of the other detail," says McGuffin.
With so many visitors though, western is able to make some of that money back through parking and concessions, and the Chiefs help bring in some big sponsors.
"Most of our revenue comes from sponsorships. Heartland Health sponsors us, American Family does American Family fun day which is Saturday, and then others. We have other sponsorships," says McGuffin.
Last year, Western made more than $375,000 from camp, a difference of about $55,000, but says it isn't working for big profits in the end.
In fact, the university says the biggest goal is to break even.
"I don't think that's a bad thing, because really, we're making more on it from what we get from the media nationally. I read articles every day from camp, talking about Missouri Western. One article from Peter King, who writes for Sports Illustrated, ranked us the seventh best camp site in America," McGuffin says.
This year, with a visit from the Arizona Cardinals, Missouri Western could see some financial boosts.
Cardinals are paying for the stay, and the university is charging for the scrimmage game.
"I think if everything went really well, I think it could be a $75,000 to $100,000 profit for us, from just the Cardinals, and that'd be great for us."
With so many fans, it has the potential to bring a lot of revenue to the area as well.
"It's going to make a difference. Absolutely, because I know there's hotels being used, restaurants being used, and gas stations, those kinds of things," says R.T. Turner, Buchanan County Commissioner.
Missouri Western says additional profit made from Chiefs camp will be used as upkeep for the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.
