Chiefs Fan From NFL Opener Tests Positive for COVID-19, 10 Quarantined

The Chiefs had an announced crowd of 15,895 for their home opener in Kansas City

Chiefs Fan From NFL Opener Tests Positive for COVID-19, 10 Quarantined
The Houston Texans warm up in front of a scattering of Kansas City Chiefs fans.
Getty Images

A Chiefs fan who attended last Thursday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the Kansas City Health Department telling 10 other people to quarantine for potential exposure to the coronavirus, according to The Washington Post.

The Chiefs, who hosted the Houston Texans in their home opener on September 10 and beat them handily, confirmed the news in a statement.

“Compliance with the protocols remains a key component to making this plan effective,” the Chiefs said. “We appreciate the professionalism and diligence of the Health Department and will continue to support its efforts in this matter and throughout the season.”

The Chiefs, who were the only team other than the Jacksonville Jaguars to play with fans in the stands in Week 1, had an announced crowd of 15,895 for their 34-20 victory over the Texans.

The Browns played with fans in the stands last night in Cleveland on Thursday Night Football and the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins are expected to have fans at their Week 2 home games.

Elsewhere in Arrowhead Stadium during the season opener, 127 suites were filled to capacity even though the lower bowl was only filled to 22 percent capacity, according to Sports Business Daily.

The team was able to do that by actually paying for COVID-19 tests for about 1,000 suite guests. Suite holders had to confirm guest lists the week before the game and nobody could access their ticket without a confirmed negative test within 72 hours of kickoff.

The VP of Marketing for CommunityAmerica credit union (a team sponsor that has two suites), Mark Johnson, said the experience was a huge success. “Just like anything new, you have a lot of questions or reservations going into it, but then you think back and say that wasn’t so bad,” he said.

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