My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

Leading the AFC West by two games with four to play, the Chiefs received authorization from the league to begin selling tickets for any possible home playoff games, and yet they haven’t clinched the division title and the right to play host to any such games.

Ever sensitive to sending the wrong message to the outside world — and in particular Sunday’s opponent, the San Diego Chargers — the Chiefs began the process of selling those tickets this week almost apologetically.

“Even on the business side, there’s a clear focus on San Diego,” chief operating officer Mark Donovan said. “The timing forced us to do this.

“The good news is we’re a potential playoff team. We have to get this information out. But this team is focused on the San Diego Chargers.”

The Chiefs began notifying season-ticket holders this week that they have until Dec. 20 to purchase their tickets for any possible playoff games at Arrowhead Stadium. Tickets would then go on sale first to Jackson County residents and then other fans, but not until the Chiefs have clinched the division title and the right to have a home playoff game.

Tickets for the general public will range from $45 to $126, not including seats on the club level.

If they win the AFC West, the Chiefs would not only play their first playoff game at Arrowhead, but possibly the AFC championship game as well. Tickets for that game would not go on sale to the general public until the Chiefs have won the right to play the game in Kansas City.

The Chiefs also are sending season-ticket renewal forms this week. Donovan said prices on about two-thirds of the seats at Arrowhead would either decline or remain the same for 2011.

The Chiefs will follow the NFL policy for refunds in case of a lockout next season. Ticket-holders would be offered a refund for any cancelled preseason or regular-season home games.

The Jackson County Sports Authority will also begin next season a $4.50 per vehicle parking fee as provided for in the 2006 amended lease agreement with the Chiefs. The fee will be waived for Jackson County taxpayers who pay for parking in advance.

The Chiefs sold about 50,000 season tickets in 2009. Donovan wouldn’t provide an exact figure for this season other than to say that number went down and “it wasn’t a significant decrease.”

He said the Chiefs expected to increase season-ticket sales next year.

“We’re trending in the right direction,” he said. “Season tickets are a lagging indicator. You’ve got to have success on the field to get people to buy season tickets for next year. We’re starting to see that. We sold over the last few days 360 season tickets for next year, which is exponential growth.”

LINK

__________________