Chiefs fans purchased game tickets Friday. They just hope they’ll get to use them
The tradition began on a whim. Some 25 years ago, Paul Williams received an unexpected holiday bonus from his employer, and by the time he walked through the front door that evening, he’d already decided how to spend it.
Chiefs tickets.
He bought three of them, then placed one in each of his two daughters’ Christmas stockings. Eight months later, they watched the Chiefs play their rival, the Oakland Raiders. They’ll never forget how that game ended — James Hasty returning an interception 64 yards for a game-winning touchdown in overtime.
“We were hooked,” Williams said.
The tradition has yet to take a year off since that 1995 fall afternoon, but the coronavirus pandemic has provided an ominous feeling to their streak, Williams said.
They’re worried. About a wiped-out season. About games with no fans in the stands. About their 25-year streak.
And that was only reinforced Friday. As the Chiefs opened single-game ticket sales on their website, Williams hopped online, the commencement of the annual custom, and was greeted with this message:
“Please note that due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19, scheduling may be impacted and the NFL, individual teams and/or venues may cancel, reschedule or postpone games. Full refunds will be available if the NFL or the team cancels a game and it cannot be replayed, or if it is played under conditions that prohibit fans from attending. If a game is postponed or rescheduled, your tickets are valid for the new date, so hang onto them and we will keep you posted.”
The Chiefs opened single-game ticket sales for 2020 on Friday morning, initially to Jackson County taxpayers, and then to season ticket-holders and then the general public on their website, Chiefs.com.
As the message stated, primary ticket and parking purchasers will receive refunds if the pandemic requires a cancellation — or in the event fans are not allowed to attend games. As in years past, the Chiefs are urging those planning to attend to also buy parking passes in advance along with their tickets or at Chiefs.com/parking.
Williams, an Overland Park resident, grabbed some Week 4 tickets in the upper deck, though he noted the options for the Super Bowl champions weren’t what they usually are.
“I guess they’re more popular than they used to be,” Williams said with a laugh.
The seats don’t matter. He just hopes to be able to attend.
As do so many others.
Chiefs CEO and owner Clark Hunt acknowledged the obvious last month — there is uncertainty about the NFL starting its schedule as planned. “Unfortunately, the truthful answer to many of those questions is we just don’t know right now,” he said.
But the league is forging ahead as if it will unfold in its traditional 17-week form and will adjust later if need be.
Many ticket buyers Friday opted for the same approach.
Garret Michael is planning to fly in from Chicago to see the Chiefs play the Raiders in October. He purchased his tickets Friday. It’s not an example of any certainty in the season being played in full, he explained, but rather assurance he has some tickets if it does progress as scheduled.
“People told me I’m an idiot — some seem pretty certain it’s not going to happen,” he said. “But I’d rather have a ticket to the game if it does happen and just get refunded if not. I’m going to operate as if things are going to be resolved, and if not, I’ll deal with it.”
Likewise, Dave Smolinski plans to make the eight-hour drive from Tinley Park, Illinois with his 13-year-old daughter to Arrowhead Stadium. He expressed optimism the season will be played.
But the possibility of a cancellation remained in the back of his mind. He also purchased tickets to the Raiders game in October.
If it happens, he’ll be ready.
“I live in Bears country, so the experience of going to Kansas City, being there to walk around the city, to be around the fans, to see everyone wearing Chiefs gear, being in the parking lot, being able to high-five other people when I’m watching the game — you can’t get that here,” Smolinski said. “You can only get that by being there.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Chiefs fans purchased game tickets Friday. They just hope they’ll get to use them."