There will be fans at Arrowhead Stadium when the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the 2020 NFL season against the Houston Texans on Sept. 10.
The defending Super Bowl champions said Monday that Arrowhead Stadium could host up to 22 percent capacity during the season. With a max capacity at more than 76,000, the stadium could have more than 15,000 in attendance as the Chiefs play their first game at home since beating the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
The Chiefs said their plan to host thousands of fans had been approved by the mayor of Kansas City and the city’s health and emergency management directors.
[List of NFL teams that have announced plans for fans in 2020]
Pod seating
Season-ticket holders have the first chance to purchase tickets for the game on Aug. 24. The team said it would be implementing a pod-based seating system — you might have heard about that on the Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast.
“Tickets will be sold in grouped pods of seats, with the ability to purchase as many as six seats in the same pod through the online process. Fans will be required to attend with known guests sitting within their purchased pod,” the team announced.
The Chiefs said there was a “potential” that capacity limits at Arrowhead could be raised throughout the season.
A limited number of Kansas City Chiefs fans will be allowed in Arrowhead Stadium for the 2020 season kickoff. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Commemorative masks
All fans attending the game will be mandated to wear a mask when not eating or drinking and refrain from smoking or spitting. The Chiefs also said that “while fans are asked to bring their own mask to use upon entering the complex, the Chiefs will provide a commemorative mask to all fans who attend the first three games.”
It’ll be fun to see how much some of those masks go for on eBay in the days after the season opener.
The Chiefs are also recommending restrictions on tailgating. And we all know how big of a deal tailgating is before games in Kansas City. Per the team, “tailgating will be allowed in the parking lot, but guests should only use the tailgate area behind their vehicle to maintain proper physical distancing between groups. Fans are encouraged to wear masks in parking areas as well.”
The game against the Texans is a rematch of the January AFC Divisional round game between the teams. Houston famously jumped out to a 24-0 lead before the Chiefs stormed back to take the lead before halftime and win 51-31.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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