KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Fans began gathering outside Arrowhead Stadium as early as the afternoon before the Kansas City Chiefs’ home opener against the Denver Broncos, with some setting up camp more than 24 hours ahead of the 7:15 p.m. kickoff.
By Monday morning, groups of fans had already been tailgating for hours near Gate 5, many returning to the same parking spots they have used for years.
Longtime tailgaters return to familiar spots
Shane Skinner has been coming to home openers for 21 years. He said he and his group return to the same tailgate spot each year.
“We haven’t missed a home open since she was six,” Skinner said, referring to his daughter, who is 23 the day of the game. “It means the world to her and it means the world to me.”
Stephen Hannan, who has been coming to home openers for 18 years, said his tailgate group of about 10 people stays in touch through a group text throughout the year.
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“We might not see each other all the time, but we all hang out right there in that same spot N41,” Hannan said.
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Sean Murray said he has been coming to home openers since 1999 with his father.
“I think just spending that time with my dad” keeps him coming back, Murray said. “I’ve met some great friends through this tailgate process and being a season ticket holder since then.”
Murray said he hopes to one day bring his own children to home openers.
“Hopefully we could continue this for years and years,” Murray said. “And hopefully one day that when I have kids, that we can just pass down the tradition of what I’ve been able to do with him.”
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Fans describe community outside the stadium
Taylor Garrison, who lives in Springfield, Missouri, and drives about two and a half hours to attend games, said he started tailgating at Gate 5 after initially parking at Gate 6.
Garrison said he began attending games regularly after having a heart attack at 29.
“It just became my happy place,” Garrison said. “My home away from home. Just somewhere stress doesn’t exist.”
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Garrison, who wears face paint and a handmade ring-style hat with signatures from Chiefs players and staff, said the hat includes signatures from Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Clark Hunt, Trey Smith and Jason Kelce.
Chris Escott said seeing his tailgate group after months apart feels like a reunion.
“It’s six months before I see them,” Escott said. “So, whenever we come back, that’s what — I mean, it’s like seeing our family again.”
Escott’s tailgate group arrived the evening before the game. The group prepared a breakfast spread that included pork bacon, turkey bacon, ham, chorizo, hash browns and scrambled eggs.
Fans set up camp overnight
Zach Weigelt, who drove about three and a half hours to Arrowhead Stadium, arrived the afternoon before the game and slept in a hammock at his tailgate setup overnight.
“It just made sense to come here because by the time I got there, it may be one in the morning, I was only getting about three or four hours of sleep,” Weigelt said. “So come here, have time, spend time with Chiefs Kingdom out here, do the pre-tailgate before the tailgate.”
Weigelt’s setup included a grill, a generator, a television and coolers.
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John Crocker, a DJ, has provided music at tailgates outside Arrowhead Stadium for about seven years. He said his go-to opening song is “We Ready.”
“The hype. The energy that it brings,” Crocker said, describing his favorite part of game day. “Today’s going to be awesome. Electric. We’re ready to go.”
Parking lots opened at 3 p.m. and stadium gates opened at 5:30 p.m. ahead of the 7:15 p.m. kickoff.
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