Guess this game will be at arrowhead for awhile
KANSAS/MISSOURI INK DEAL TO PLAY AT ARROWHEAD THROUGH 2012
NOV 27, 2008, 1:30:20 PM
The oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi will be played at Arrowhead Stadium the next four years Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson announced on Wednesday. The Chiefs, the Kansas City Sports Commission, the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas have entered into a four-year extension that will bring the Border Showdown to Arrowhead through 2012. As in past years involving collegiate contests at Arrowhead, Chiefs season-ticket holders will be given priority option to purchase tickets.
“This continues what everyone knows was the late Lamar Hunt’s dream,” Peterson commented. “Without question this is a great positive for Kansas City, Jackson County and Arrowhead Stadium. “We sincerely appreciate the efforts of both schools’ administrations and athletic departments to make this happen,” Peterson continued. “We believe the game held at Arrowhead benefits the universities, their students and student athletes, alumni and fans. Athletic directors Lew Perkins and Mike Alden have our thanks. Lamar would be very proud.”
Mike Alden, Missouri’s athletic director, echoed Peterson’s comments believing the rivalry “helps increase the exposure to what is one of the best rivalries in all of college athletics, and it furthers our mission of bringing the University of Missouri to the state and its supporters. We could play this game in a parking lot and it would mean everything to everyone involved, but when you play it in such a storied venue as Arrowhead Stadium, it only adds to the rivalry.”
University of Kansas Athletic Director Lew Perkins agreed that the new four-year agreement enables his university “to bring a game to the back yard of its largest alumni base. In addition, it gives our players the experience of competing in one of the NFL’s premier stadiums – an experience they will never forget. We’d like to thank the Hunt family, Carl Peterson and his staff at Arrowhead, and the city of Kansas City for helping to make this a reality.”
The 2007 edition of the rivalry played in Kansas City produced the second-largest crowd in Arrowhead Stadium history when 80,527 fans witnessed the fourth-ranked Tigers upend the second-ranked Jayhawks 36-28. In a rivalry dating back to 1891, the two universities have faced off in Kansas City 22 times with the Jayhawks holding a 12-7-3 advantage in those games. Kansas will serve as the host team in 2009 and 2011, while Missouri will entertain the Jayhawks in 2010 and 2012.
“We are excited and pleased to have played a part in helping extend this wonderful new tradition in Kansas City,” said Ken Hager, Chair of the (Greater) Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation. “The new Arrowhead Stadium will be a tremendous venue as we strive to surround this game with a number of activities for visiting fans and area residents to enjoy.”
Over the past decade, Arrowhead Stadium has hosted 17 college football games with two more Big 12 contests on tap for 2009. Big 12 Conference teams such as Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma have already visited the Home of the Chiefs. Other NCAA Division 1A teams who have visited Arrowhead include Iowa, Florida State and the University of California. Kansas State and Iowa State will also open a two-game series at Arrowhead beginning in 2009.
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2008/11..._through_2012/
