If the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills would have met in the AFC title game this year, the matchup would have been played at a neutral site in Atlanta after a crucial game with playoff implications was canceled due to the Damar Hamlin injury. Obviously, that didn’t happen. But the proposal left many wondering if the league would consider moving to neutral site conference championship games in the future. But at least one owner is against it.
During an interview with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was asked about the potential move, and he revealed that he would be against it.
“I actually agree with you on that point,” Arthur Blank said according to Pro Football Talk. “Even though we were selected, I mean, it was a credit to our organization, we were selected out of any number of teams, to use our stadium. But, having said that, I think your point is accurate. The whole year you fight, you do what you can to win games, et cetera, et cetera, and you want to reward your fans by hosting that championship game in your facility.
“It was interesting because Clark Hunt, Lamar’s son, who is the operating owner for the Kansas City Chiefs, he just came out just yesterday, I think, and said he definitely doesn’t think those games should be played on a neutral site. But his father, Lamar, was a strong proponent of it. And I know Clark well, obviously I serve on committees with him and he’s a great owner, a great leader in the league, I would agree with him. I’m sure his dad, if he was with us, he would have some other viewpoints on why it was a good idea but I’m happy with the existing [approach].”
We’ll have to see if Blank gets his way, or if a neutral site conference championship game becomes a reality.
