ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Thunderstorms delayed the start of today's practice, but once the skies cleared, the players came out to practice in front of the fans on the first day of training camp at the Kansas City Chiefs' new facility in St. Joseph.

There were hundreds of fans to meet the players at Missouri Western State University, many of whom had never before seen a Chiefs' practice.

The Chiefs greeted their fans more than an hour later than expected as heavy rains and lightning forced fans under tents and the team inside for its first practice. But the players finished outside, on their two new practice fields.

"I had a little doubt they wouldn't come out," fan Carlos Chalmers said.

Chalmers said he wanted his 14-year-old son, an aspiring quarterback at Hickman High, to soak it all in.

"To bring him up here and show him the professional football players and how they practice," he said.

"I'm glad it's up here now," said fan Mark Roberson. "I can drive up here, it's only 45 minutes away."

Most of the fans and even the cheerleaders never went to River Falls, Wis., where the Chiefs held their training camp for the past 20 years.

"This is my fourth season cheering, and we've never had the opportunity to go to River Falls," said Kerri, a Chiefs cheerleader.

While some fans bought new gear and food from vendors, others just soaked in the sights of the beginning of the football season, feeling closer to their team than ever before.

Kerri said moving the camp to St. Joe gives fans from all over the area a unique opportunity to come and be part of the atmosphere.