Around 1,000 Chiefs fans pack Power and Light for first preseason game in sweltering heat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Chiefs fans braved the sweltering summer heat Thursday night to watch the team’s first preseason game of the year against the Arizona Cardinals – and they did it with about 1,000 other fans at the Power and Light.

By 7 p.m., the outdoor watch party had turned into a sea of red. The temperature hovered in the 90s, with the heat index pushing into the upper 90s. Even the shade from the district’s large canopy couldn’t stop the sweat from pouring, but for many in Chiefs Kingdom, that was just part of the tradition.

“I’m a die hard so it don’t matter what it feels like out here, I’m going to be here,” said Cory Gumminger.

“We’re crazy, and we love the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Patrice Stillman.

“Football is back,” Miguel Armstrong said. “That’s what I gotta say. Football is back.”

Stillman and her friend, Tricia Williams showed up around 5 p.m. to claim a good spot.

“We wanted to get early seats, and now we’re pretty much sweating our tails off out here, but it’s okay – we do anything for the Chiefs,” she said.

The game may not count in the standings, but fans said the excitement of the season’s first snap outweighs the discomfort of the heat.

“I think this offense is going to be pretty high flying,” Gumminger said.

The Chiefs have played in five of the last six Super Bowls, and many fans are already confident this season will bring another trip to the big game.

“Yes, I think 100,000 million kajillion percent that will be the case,” Armstrong said. “I think everybody else here will say the same thing.”

By Ryan Hennessy