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Chiefs' training camp to Missouri Western for 3 more years

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Kansas City Chiefs will continue to spend training camp on the campus of Missouri Western after the school's board of governors approved a three-year contract extension Thursday.

The decision will keep the Chiefs heading north of Kansas City through at least 2017. The agreement includes two extensions of one-year each at the option of the Chiefs and the school.

"From a football perspective, continuing to hold camp at Missouri Western State University makes sense for us," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in a statement.

"The school and community take great care of us, the people are phenomenal and it provides the team the resources and facilities necessary to build momentum toward the season. We are excited to be back."

The Chiefs used to hold training camp in Wisconsin in part because of the cooler late-summer weather. But they moved closer to home in 2010, striking a deal with the Division II school in St. Joseph that included help with major facility upgrades.

The deal ended after this past season, and there was some thought that the Chiefs would follow a trend across the NFL by moving their camp to their own facility. As it stands, they only spend the final couple of weeks working out in Kansas City.

"We are pleased we were able to reach an agreement with Missouri Western," Chiefs president Mark Donovan said.

"As an organization, we've really enjoyed the relationships and the support we have received from the St. Joseph community and Missouri Western. It's a privilege for us and our fan base to continue to hold camp in Chiefs kingdom."

Under terms of the extension, Missouri Western agreed to improve the two practice fields used by the Chiefs and reimburse the franchise for some of the expenses of maintaining them. The deal also freezes the Chiefs' food costs at last year's levels for the duration of it, and will provide for additional residence hall space and security.

Reid has favored moving away from home for training camp dating to his days coaching the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet the distance from Kansas City - about an hour by car - makes it possible for more fans to attend workouts than when the Chiefs held training camp in Wisconsin.

This past season, the local convention and visitor's bureau estimated that 40,000 visitors attended the practices open to the public, resulting in $6.3 million in economic impact.

"As a campus, we have benefited from the increased exposure of the training camp and from physical improvements like the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex that would not have been possible without the support of the Chiefs," said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western's president. "I am very appreciative of everyone who has worked so hard to make this a reality."

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