KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the Kansas City Chiefs opened the 2020 NFL season, Chiefs fans were eager to get into the stadium.
“I’m excited a lot," Alaina Charlons, an 8-year-old Chiefs fan, said.
Alaina was one of thousands of Chiefs fans ready for kick-off Thursday night.
“We haven’t been to a football game since the Super Bowl, we’re ready, we are ready to rock," Donnie Tomahawk said.
With lower temperatures than normal and rain off and on, the weather didn't stop Chiefs fans.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been to a football game, but today is as good as any," Brock Feathers said.
Chiefs fans wasted no time, breaking out their tailgates early. Fans were not allowed into the stadium parking lot until 3:20 p.m., but some were tailgating as they waited in line to get in.
It’s amazing, we’re lucky. There’s millions of NFL fans and we’re one of the few that gets to go to the game," Josh Fisher said.
As fans piled into the parking lot, the tailgating experiences wasn't typical for Arrowhead Stadium.
“It’s a little different as far as the energy that you’re used to. The electric energy that Arrowhead brings being one of the largest and best tailgating atmospheres in the country, so the energy is different right now but it’s understandable due to the circumstances," Josh Wahba said.
With limited fans inside Arrowhead, the fans in attendance had to make up for those Chiefs fans watching at home.
“We gotta be loud, we have to be super super loud, so we have to be five times as loud today with five times fewer fans, right," Feathers said.
Limited fans, mask requirements and socially distant tailgates were all required Thursday and fans hope their efforts will allow for more fans in the stands in the future.
