Indianapolis, Detroit can’t host neutral site AFC championship

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The hunt for the location of a potential neutral site AFC championship game continues.

On Friday, NFL owners voted affirmatively to do a neutral-site conference title game in the AFC under several scenarios involving the Bills, Chiefs and Bengals after the Week 17 Bills-Bengals matchup was canceled when Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field. Hamlin remains in the hospital but has since woken up and communicated with teammates.

At least two cities have taken themselves out of consideration to host the game if it happens. Reports out of Indianapolis indicate that the city would not be able to handle the game because there was a prior booking at Lucas Oil Stadium for a national volleyball tournament that is already expected to draw up to 30,000 people to town.

Indianapolis could not accommodate a neutral site AFC championship game.
Raymond Boyd
Detroit's Ford Field is unable to hold a possible neutral site AFC Championship because it is changing its turf.
Detroit’s Ford Field is unable to hold a possible neutral site AFC Championship because it is changing its turf.
NurPhoto via Getty Images

Indianapolis was the first city that popped into many people’s minds. The city hosts the NFL Combine every year and in general vigorously pursues big sporting events, which have included the Super Bowl, Final Four and every Big Ten football championship game.

Meanwhile, Ford Field in Detroit — a reasonable distance from Kansas City, Buffalo or Cincinnati — is also unavailable.

“I’m told in mid-January they have a previously planned change-out of their turf,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Media tweeted on Friday. “At best, they’re the 7-seed and can’t host anyway. So they’ll use the time to improve their field.”

One remaining intriguing scenario would be Chicago. While the Windy City is frigid in late January, it’s located in relative proximity to the three fan bases, all of whom are used to braving the elements in their outdoor stadiums.


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