Training Camp: What's new and how businesses are preparing - KCTV5

The countdown has arrived and the Chiefs will start showing up at camp Thursday night. KCTV5's Alan Shope outlines what's new for fans this year in St. Joseph, MO.

Wednesday, things were quiet for crews in St. Joe, but that will change the following day as players and fans start showing up.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for those who are Chiefs fans. Football season is right around the corner and the training facility in St. Joe is ready.

Wednesday crews put the final preparations on camp number three at Missouri Western State University that included a final cleaning of all the player dorms, scrubbing windows to make them shine and adding orange cones for traffic flow around the campus.

"You know it takes a lot - a lot of planning and working with the Chiefs and our staff and of course, our community is really involved with it," MWSU AD Kurt McGuffin said.

The training camp supplies about 200 paid and volunteer summer jobs. For students, it's a chance to learn about their future field.

"I think it's great because a lot of the people in the sports field have an opportunity to work hands-on with the profession," student worker Ruben Martinez said.

"It's just a big chance to do what you love," student worker Ethan Bailey said. "I get to work here, I get to work around the players and make them comfortable."

Camp organizers said the first two years were very successful and there are not many changes this year - just more covered tents. Organizers said the biggest issue this year will be dealing with the heat.

"I think it's always the challenge. We've done some things, added the shade tents for people we've never had before under the bleachers. We'll have more EMS here to look for those signs, obviously adding more venders for water and Gatorade," McGuffin said.

The extra tents will add more shade and protection. In all, there are 15 open practices and 13 of them will start just after 3 p.m. so organizers warn to be prepared for the heat.

"I know Chiefs fans, they don't care what the weather is, cold or hot they're going to be there so we're excited to have them," McGuffin said.

Local businesses are preparing for an economical boost over the next three weeks.

While last year's camp in St. Joe was considered a success, businesses said the NFL lockout did cut down on traffic, but they are expecting big crowds this year.

Cowboy boots are probably not the first thing that comes to mind when a person thinks about the Chiefs and training camp. But the St. Joe Boot Company is a landmark in the town and they said fans by the numbers roll in for three weeks in early August.

"We've noticed a lot of people that have stopped by and we usually always visit and ask them where they're from," Brenda Keesaman with St. Joe Boot Co. said. "We've had a lot of people say they are here for the Chiefs' practice."

So many pairs of boots are walking out the door, the building has gotten too small for their inventory. The St. Joe Boot Co. is expanding and they said it's thanks, in part, to the Chiefs coming to St. Joe.

"A lot of them are coming up here looking for something different. The colors are usually a red, something unique," Keesaman said.

It's the same story for On-Site Golf in St. Joe - they started advertising on Kansas City radio this week to get folks to stop in while they are visiting the camp.

"We just like to see people passing through, whether they are golfer or not, just come check out the store and see what we have," Cameron Moore with On-Site Golf said.

And of course business can always get better and that's why St. Joe Boot Co. started offering a Chiefs boot this year.

"This has your Chief up here with all the rhinestones, your western detail," Keesaman said. "This has brought a lot of tension for fans of Kansas City Chiefs," Keesaman said.

If cowboy boots are not your thing, there are plenty of souvenir shops around St. Joe.

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