AFC Championship 2023 Neutral Site Location, Options & Rumors

One of the biggest stories heading into the NFL playoffs is the possibility of a neutral site being used in the AFC Championship Game. That possibility would become a reality if the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs both advance to that stage.

Fans on both sides are eager to find out what the official venue will be. Here's everything you need to know on the situation.

Where Will the AFC Championship Game Be Played 2023?

The NFL has not announced the neutral site for a Bills vs Chiefs AFC Championship Game yet. The league's rule change for this postseason was just approved by an all-owner vote last week, giving commissioner Roger Goodell power to select the host for a possible Buffalo-KC game in the playoffs.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported Tuesday morning that a decision could come as early as this week, though.

This would at least clear up the speculation on what site may host. It'd also give both Buffalo and Kansas City some time to plan the travel logistics that would be involved since this possibility wasn't expected beforehand.

AFC Championship Neutral Site Options

A few venues have been floated as fits to be a neutral site for the AFC Championship Game.

Ford Field in Detroit was the first host that came to mind with the Lions ruled out of playing a home game if they made the playoffs. However, Ford Field was nixed due to stadium renovations that are already scheduled to take place.

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was another logical suggestion given its past hosting big college football bowl games. This site is off the table, though, due to a national youth volleyball tournament scheduled for the same weekend.

In terms of indoor venues, the league's choices have dwindled a bit, especially with State Farm Stadium in Arizona already on tap to host this year's Super Bowl. That leaves the likes of Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, New Orleans' Caesars Superdome, Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium and Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium as potential options.

AFC Championship Neutral Site Rumors

The latest rumor dominating the league is that Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be chosen as the neutral site host. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport mentioned the Falcons' home as a possible option in early January, and now Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe has reported it's the "likely" pick.

Fescoe said Wednesday morning New Orleans is also in contention. He then added each team's preferred venues, with the Bills favoring Cleveland or Pittsburgh, while the Chiefs want Las Vegas.

Atlanta's more than capable of hosting a big-time sporting events, as Mercedes-Benz Stadium holds major college football bowl games annually, including the national championship game in 2017.

With a decision possibly coming this week, fans should get official word on the neutral site soon.

Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

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