CINCINNATI — This weekend's divisional matchups have not yet been played, but the NFL is already selling tickets for a neutral-site AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
The league has directed both teams to start selling tickets for the game, which would be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 18. In an announcement, the NFL said Bills and Chiefs season ticket members can buy tickets starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Non-season ticket holders will be able to register for a presale that starts at 9 a.m. Friday.
Of course, neither team has secured their spot in the AFC championship. The Bills play the Cincinnati Bengals at 3 p.m. Sunday, while the Chiefs host the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday afternoon.
If the Bills and Chiefs win, remaining tickets for the championship will go on sale to the public Monday, Jan. 23. If either team loses, fans will receive a full refund.
This isn't unusual.
“They sell Superbowl tickets well in advance of knowing who the teams are going to be and so I don’t really think this is that much different,” Mo Egger, an ESPN1530 host said.
Tickets have been on sale for all possible AFC Championship scenarios, but the neutral site was decided on recently, causing tickets to go on sale now.
The part that's different is the neutral site.
Owners of the 32 franchises decided on a neutral site championship game between Buffalo and Kansas City weeks ago when the NFL canceled the Bengals-Bills regular season game after Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.
The decision was made because the Chiefs (14-3) played one more game than the Bills (13-3). The Chiefs also, obviously, played one more game than the Bengals (12-4), but Cincinnati's extra loss meant there will not be a neutral site if the Bengals and Chiefs once again meet in the AFC championship.
If the Bills and Chiefs had lost their final regular season game, though, a possible Bengals-Chiefs championship game would have been at a neutral site.
The decision has many fans upset or even confused. Some on social media are asking why this weekend's Bengals vs. Bills game isn't at a neutral site. Others are expressing their frustration on social media, saying this is a snub to the Bengals.
For some fans, it's not the idea of a neutral site in general that bothers them.
“I think it’s good, just out of comfot levels for each team, like if you’re on your home turf you’re more inclined to feel a little more comfortable," one fan, Brooklynn Dipaoli said.
Others are still frustrated with this weekend's location.
“I think the neutral site’s okay, but like we didn’t get to play the Bills here,” Ezra Lane said.
If the Bengals and Chiefs win their respective divisional games, the AFC championship will be in Kansas City. If the Chiefs are upset by the Jaguars, the winner of Bengals-Bills will host the championship.
