Typically camps run 4 weeks or more. Blame it on the this year's calendar and potential television conflicts between the NFL and college football. UW-RF Camp Coordinator Mary Halada said the NFL pushed back the start of the 1999 season by a week to avoid a later conflict on Friday, New Year's Eve, and Saturday, New Year's Day, with major college bowl games. By delaying the schedule a week, the NFL's regular season ends Sunday, Jan. 2. The playoffs start a week later and avoid a clash with the college bowl games, which are also televised and draw big audiences and commercial sponsors.
TV rules the world.
While the Chiefs would like to stay a week longer at UW-RF, Halada said that's impossible because the university must prepare for returning fall students. Instead, Halada said the New Orleans Saints will come to River Falls to practice with the Chiefs on Friday, Aug. 6, and Saturday, Aug. 7. Halada said the Saints will arrive in River Falls Thursday evening, Aug. 5. They will be housed at the university's May Hall. The Saints hold summer camp in La Crosse.