KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs AFC Championship gear has arrived at stores throughout the Kansas City area.
Academy Sports and Outdoors has dozens of boxes stashed away full of gear that can't be opened until Sunday's AFC Championship Game ends — and even then, only if the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills.
An Academy Sports store manager, Joe Barton, said shipments of the new merchandise have been arriving all week.
Barton said it takes a lot of preparation to unveil championship gear immediately after the game, but the recent success of the Chiefs and Royals has helped prepare them for such events.
Barton said the setup will be much different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if there's a mad dash among fans headed to the stores following Sunday's game.
“The major difference with COVID from last year is we’re going to use QR codes, so people can actually use that QR code to get in line before they actually come into the building, so they can be safe," Barton said. "We’re going to limit people who come in, so probably 15 to 20 people at a time so that we can social distance everybody."
Academy Sports and Outdoors locations across Kansas City will remain open until everyone has purchased their items, or until the championship gear sells out.
“As they win, as soon as the clock is 0:00:00, we’ll put everything out ready for everyone to buy," Barton said.
All Dick's Sporting Goods locations in suburban Kansas City along with stores in St. Joseph, Wichita, Salina and Topeka also plan to reopen if the Chiefs win to sell AFC Champions merchandise.
Dick's is encouraging fans to buy their gear using its Contactless Curbside Pickup service. The company also said in a release that its KC-area stores also will open early at 7 am. on Monday, if the Chiefs clinch a berth in Super Bowl LV.
Staff at the Chiefs Pro Shop inside Arrowhead Stadium also are gearing up in hopes of a big win.
“Everything from playoff gear to divisional championship gear, great new face masks ... some new designs that have come in every day as we advance throughout the playoffs," Tim Witkowski, Aramark district manager, said.
The Chief Pro Shop has a Chiefs vs. Bills matchup T-shirt available in store ahead of the game as well.
“(It) just came in this morning, so you can’t get any newer than that Chiefs shirt right now," Witkowski said.