KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs haven’t won a home playoff game in 24 years, but that hasn’t deterred Chiefs fans from buying into Saturday’s Wild Card game against the Tennessee Titans, and the club’s front office is throwing its weight into the fight to try to put the team in the winner’s circle.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones shows off the rally towels the team plans to distribute to fans attending the Wild Card playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo courtesy Chiefs PR. Chiefs.com)
Team president Mark Donovan said 88 percent of the club’s season ticket members opted in for playoff tickets before they even knew if the Chiefs would host a game.
“We’re thankful for that, we’re proud of that,” Donovan said. “That says something about our fan base.”
Donovan says the Chiefs have already sold more tickets for the Wild Card round than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Projections put the Chiefs on pace to out sell games in New Orleans and Los Angeles, he said.
“That’s what makes Arrowhead so special,” Donovan said. “If we continue the pace where we are, which I think we will, we’re going to sell more tickets to our Wild Card playoff game than any other playoff game played this season. Division, Championship round, that’s a testament to our fan base, and we’re excited about that, and that’s what makes Arrowhead special.”
Arrowhead Stadium’s capacity of 76,416 makes it the second-largest stadium among playoff teams. Only the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, home of the Rams, holds a greater capacity at 93,607. But the Rams averaged just 63,392 fans per game, just 67.7 percent of capacity. The Chiefs averaged 74,106, 97 percent of capacity.
Donovan also encourages fans to arrive inside the stadium earlier, both to enjoy the show and add to the Arrowhead mystique. A B-2 flyover from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base headlines the pregame ceremonies, which also features a full-field American flag and the national anthem performed by country musician Clay Walker.
The team also will distribute 70,000 rally towels for fans to wave during the game.
“We’re doing it in a truly Arrowhead way, half will be white, half will be red,” Donovan said. “I think the visual is going to be amazing on ESPN/ABC and it’s going to be a visual that really launches to the world.”
Parking lots open at 10:30 a.m. for the 3:35 p.m. game time, providing fans up to five hours to tailgate. Stadium gates open at 1:30 p.m. Donovan encourages fans to take an extra 15 minutes to make it to their seats before the game starts to create a playoff atmosphere at the game’s kickoff.
“We really want the ground shaking at kickoff,” Donovan said. “That’s part of the Arrowhead advantage, that’s part of what makes this place special.”
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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