According to several Kansas University Athletic Department officials, there seems to be a good chance the KU football team will start to play more games in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. Apparently, these officials see advantages for the team and university in playing what used to be termed KU “home” games in Kansas City rather than in KU’s Memorial Stadium.

Before the Kansas-Oklahoma game, KU athletic department representatives said that moving the KU game out of Lawrence to Kansas City was approved by almost all of the Lawrence community.

As yet, no official attendance figures have been announced, but early estimates placed the crowd at approximately 53,000, far short of the attendance at previous Arrowhead games involving Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma universities playing highly visible opponents. No reason has been given for the lower turnout for the KU-OU game even though one of the strong talking points in favor of moving the game out of Lawrence was so the tens of thousands of KU alumni living in Johnson County would be able to see the Jayhawks in action.

Since the game, KU officials continue to favor KU playing in Arrowhead Stadium. Other schools in other conferences seem to be moving games that had been played in off-campus sites back to campus locations, but it appears KU officials may be moving in the opposite direction.

KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins says he and others have been visiting with Missouri officials about playing their annual game in Kansas City. Previously, MU officials had said they would not move a KU-MU game from Columbia to Kansas City, although KU officials have endorsed such a move. What has changed the minds of MU officials? Money?

“Do we want to play in Kansas City every year?” Perkins is quoted as saying. “Yeah,” he answered, but “we want to make sure we have six games at KU.” It seems Perkins is willing to take an Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, Kansas State or other conference game out of Lawrence and replace it with a far less attractive opponent such as Florida Atlantic, Appalachian State or Louisiana Tech.

Several days ago, another KU athletic official said he and others had conducted a survey and it was “split down the middle” between those who favor moving games to Arrowhead Stadium and those who want to keep them in Memorial Stadium.

It would be interesting to know who was included in this sample. Certainly not Lawrence business owners. This official added that regardless of what some may like or dislike, the decision will be based on “what’s best for our football team.” To heck with other considerations.

It will be interesting to see whether KU officials try to get current season ticket holders to buy tickets for the 2006 season without any knowledge of who the Jayhawks will be playing in Memorial Stadium. One can wonder whether there will be the same interest in teams such as Southwestern Louisiana, Central Florida, Louisiana-Monroe, Samford, Sam Houston State, Indiana State, Montana State and the like as there might be for Kansas State, Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M or some other nationally ranked team.

Some at KU have tried to sell the story that moving games to Arrowhead is not about money, that that’s the furthest thing from their minds and the main reason is to give KU alumni living in Kansas City a better, easier chance to see the Jayhawks. Who believes that?

It is unfortunate KU officials don’t have as much loyalty to local long-time supporters of the KU football program as these supporters gave shown to the team. Just as soon as Kansas City’s new basketball arena is finished, don’t be surprised if the KU Athletic Department tries to move some games out of Allen Fieldhouse so Johnson County alumni can see the games.

In too many cases today, fan loyalty is a one-way street.