‘Best thing that could ever happen’: Chiefs fans erupt under fireworks in Kansas City
With two minutes left in the game, Kansas City Chiefs fan Thomas Gaye began jumping back and forth in excitement.
“I love this!” shouted Gaye, 24, of Kansas City, surrounded by more than 150 other Chiefs devotees Sunday at the downtown Power & Light District. “I love this, baby!”
When the clock hit zero, securing the Chiefs’ AFC Championship win over the Tennessee Titans, fans in a sea of red and yellow erupted in celebration — a party 50 years in the making.
“Let’s go Chiefs!” the crowd cheered. “Let’s go Chiefs!”
THIS IS REALL LIFE pic.twitter.com/uC4rOouV8o
— Kansas City Live! (@KCLiveBlock) January 20, 2020
Some fans spilled into Rally House to buy merchandise after the game, creating a line at one point of at least 50 people to get their hands on AFC Championship gear, said acting store manager Gabrielle Smith, 27. The store plans to soon have more gear, including pint glasses. It has hired more employees in preparation for the championship.
Smith called the fans’ exhilaration “surreal.”
“You can definitely feel the fans,” she said.
As Smith described the excitement, a woman leaving the store hollered: “Hey ya’ll, how about those Chiefs?”
The question was followed by a cheer from others inside.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas tweeted a photo of himself covered in confetti.
“WE’RE GOING TO MIAMI,” the message read.
WE’RE GOING TO MIAMI#CHIEFSKINGDOM pic.twitter.com/lmZ7nzx9a6
— Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) January 19, 2020
‘Super Bowl!’
Back at the KC Live! venue, a boy carrying a large Chiefs flag ran across the stage. The crowd hopped up and down. Red lights fell over the fans, many of whom filmed the historic moment with their cellphones. The rally call changed several times.
“Super Bowl! Super Bowl!”
Another unifying chant came as quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared on the large TV screen.
“MVP! MVP!”
Confetti flew over as fans hugged. Fireworks went off. Fans jumped up on tables. Cars honked. Rapper Tech N9ne appeared on stage. His song, “Hood Go Crazy” featuring 2 Chainz and B.o.B., blasted over the speakers.
After being sprayed by champagne, some fans described themselves as being grateful to be alive to witness the win. Lifelong fan Darrell Parks, 55, a Kansas City native, said the victory was much better than any holiday.
“This is the best thing that could ever happen,” he said. “I can’t explain it.”
With a final score of 35-24, the Chiefs won a spot at Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2 in Miami. Some fans said they already had tickets.
“Pack your sunscreen folks!” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson tweeted.
