MU-KU games to be played in Arrowhead through 2012

The schools announced on Nov. 27 the agreement would last four more years.

By Daniel Everson

Published Dec. 11, 2008

The Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks will play the annual Border Showdown football game in Kansas City for four more years.

The University of Kansas, MU, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Sports Commission announced Nov. 27 the agreement to keep the game at Arrowhead Stadium through 2012.

The extension follows a two-year contract to play at Arrowhead. The Tigers and Jayhawks split the two games. No. 4 MU beat No. 2 KU 36-28 in 2007, but this year the Jayhawks upset the No. 13 Tigers, 40-37.

Although Arrowhead is a neutral site, the Jayhawks will officially be the home team in 2009 and 2011, and the Tigers will be at home in 2010 and 2012.

Athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said MU's primary benefit of playing the game in Kansas City is a substantial financial gain.

"Both schools will make a lot more money than they would have under normal circumstances of a home game," he said.

Moller also explained that it is easier to be the home team at a neutral site than it is at the actual home stadium. When KU and MU meet in Kansas City, for example, neither school is responsible for preparing the stadium. The Chiefs, instead, ensure Arrowhead is ready for game day.

Playing the Border Showdown in Kansas City also brings MU greater exposure throughout the state, Moller said.

"It's a great experience for the program and the university to take it out of Columbia and to the state," Moller said. "One of our charges is that it's not the University of Columbia, it's the University of Missouri."

Moller said one disadvantage of playing the game in Kansas City is losing the local economic boost of game day.

"When you lose a home game, certainly there is an impact on the local business community," he said. "We're certainly sensitive to that."

Moller said the athletics department would always ensure six home games for local businesses to benefit from.

Tiger Spirit owner Michelle Dillard said there is a big difference in income between football game day and any other day.

"Our six home games are our busiest days of the year," Dillard said. "I would prefer (the KU game) to be in Columbia because it usually is a sellout and brings a lot of people in."

Junior Jordan Freborg said he did not attend the MU-KU game this year but did in 2007. He described his experience at Arrowhead, where MU won the Big 12 North and the national No. 1 ranking.

"Obviously Arrowhead is just an electric atmosphere," he said. "And the stakes were unbelievable."

Freshman Alex Taylor said he did not attend this year's Border Showdown because he needed to study and did not have a ride to Kansas City.

"They'd probably get more people to go if they brought it every other year to the (teams') actual stadiums," he said. "More students especially, but also more townies."

Freshmen BreAnna Hunter and Elizabeth Jester said they both tried unsuccessfully to get student tickets to the MU-KU game. Jester lives in Kansas City, but Hunter said getting a ride to Kansas City would have been a concern for her.

Although she was unable to get a ticket to the game, Jester said she is happy to have the game at Arrowhead.

"I like it at Arrowhead," Jester said. "I think it lets KU fans have an equal amount and Mizzou fans have an equal amount, so home advantage isn't really a factor."