Chiefs now deny 2020 naming-rights deal with GEHA

UPDATE 2:17 p.m. Arrowhead Time:

Apparently the reporting from the Sports Business Journal was incorrect, as evidenced by this statement from the Kansas City Chiefs released through their official Twitter account:

Note that the Chiefs qualify the statement with “in the 2020 season.” This — and the rest of the statement — suggest that the possibility of a naming-rights deal with GEHA could be on the table in future seasons, but not in 2020.

According to reporting from Terry Lefton of the Sports Business Journal, the Kansas City Chiefs could soon be playing on a field with a new name.

Unlike many other NFL teams, the Chiefs have never sold the field-naming rights to Arrowhead Stadium. But in the last decade or so, the team has been reported to be interested in finding the right partner to hold those rights. It now looks like GEHA — the Government Employees Health Association — will be the first.

GEHA already has sponsorship deals with the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, so it’s no surprise that the organization would be in line for this deal. It is expected to be in place for the start of the 2020 season.

We do not expect that the venue will simply become known as “GEHA Stadium,” as has happened with some other professional sports franchises. Instead, since the report specifically mentions the field, we expect that the Chiefs will follow the lead of other teams (like the Denver Broncos) and name only the field; we’ll hear broadcasters referring to something like “GEHA Field at Arrowhead.”

GEHA is a not-for-profit provider of medical and dental plans for federal employees. Headquartered in Lee’s Summit, Missouri — a Kansas City suburb — the company employs 1,400 people.