Arrowhead, Wembley and I

By Tom Childs

Back when the announcement was made on November 6th that the Chiefs would be hosting the Lions at Wembley in 2015, two things went through my head that day.

The first is pretty obvious – excitement! After 7 years of putting up with mediocre teams like the current day Jaguars (no offense) and the 2007 Miami Dolphins (they were 0-7 when they played at Wembley) I will finally get to see my Kansas City Chiefs in London. The team I have supported since 2002 will be in our national stadium. My heroes that I sometimes have to stay up until 4am to watch will be strutting their stuff just 41.5 miles from my house (thanks Google maps).

Instantly I took to Twitter. ‘YEEEESSSSSSSS’ I tweeted from the Arrowheads Abroad account. Within seconds of posting the Chiefs official account had re-tweeted my obvious happiness at the news. All was good in the world but then come my second thought in the form of realisation ‘the Kansas City Chiefs will HOST the Detroit Lions at Wembley in 2015. Oh no, the Chiefs have given up a home game.’

The Chiefs are regarded as having one of the best fan bases in the world. The best if you ask me. The noise generated creates a huge home field advantage. An advantage that unfortunately is impossible to imitate at Wembley Stadium. That doesn’t mean we won’t try. I had my first trip to Arrowhead booked for one month later. The trip originally was about having fun, now it was market research.

This was a trip I had long dreamt about. Ever since I started supporting the Chiefs my aim was to get to see the Chiefs in person and it had to be a home game, a proper home game. A year of saving and hours of planning had all led to a 6 day trip to Missouri with the simple goal;

Drink beer, eat BBQ, meet new people and see my Chiefs win. Thank you Kansas City, you delivered on all four.

It would be easy for me to sit here and find my inner food and drink critic. I honestly think I could write a short book on how much better American food is better than the British counterpart. Or somehow the best cider I have ever tried was brewed in Cincinnati and not Somerset.

Likewise I could go into one about how Andy Reid’s men took apart the Oakland Raiders but that game has been and gone. That’s not what this article is about. This is about my game day experience

Kansas City is by far the friendliest place I have ever been to. Not once did I not feel welcome. It didn’t matter who I spoke to the conversation would start the same ‘Hello, how are you?’ and would also end in an equally polite manner ‘Goodbye, you have a great day’. Little things I know but it’s the little things like manners that leave a lasting impression.

In England soccer match days are very simple. You travel to the Stadium or surrounding area, followed by one or two pints before the game. Walk to the ground whilst singing a few songs. You watch the game then home. Maybe if you have enough time sneak one or two more drinks in. A very simple day out, a very enjoyable day out none the less but other than the game itself you never create any lasting memories from the pre or post-game activities.

So as you can tell, tailgating was a very alien prospect to me. But I was 100% sure I would find my four favourite things; this is where the lot D tailgate crew would help.

Thanks to the Chiefs fan group I run I had already pre-arranged to meet up with the guys from lot D on game day. I had received a few offers from other tailgaters to join them. If I could have possibly split my body in 5 pieces I would have. But ultimately it would be the lot D gang’s keenness that won me over.

From the moment we found them at 8.30am I knew tailgating suited me. The warm welcome we received from everyone that day will be a memory I will never forget. You know sometimes you get that feeling people are so nice that secretly you worry about what they get up to behind closed doors? Not here. Their interest in our trip was genuine. Instantly I felt part of the family. All sorts of questions, drinks and delicacies were being thrown my way. I ate deer, drank homemade moonshine, and sung songs amongst other things. This was my first experience of tailgating. If there was a tradition to be tested I would do it. After all this was market research for Wembley next year and I wasn’t to know when I would be coming back.

The Lot D tailgating crew - photo by Al Shoaf

‘Hey Tom’ I would hear ‘have you ever shotgun a beer?’ No I hadn’t, afraid to say that I was a rookie when it came to drinking games, I would leave the car park a seasoned veteran. Out of nowhere someone would shout ‘who’s house?’ Like a well-rehearsed choir everyone would respond ‘our house’. Again I was a rookie, a backup singer I suppose. Lead vocals by the end.

All year I had been waiting to get into the Stadium, now the time had come I was sad to leave my new family so soon.

Before the game kicked off you could see why this stadium is so intimidating for opposing teams. The moment I had waited so long to witness had arrived; the national anthem and THAT last line. Hairs on the back of my neck were well and truly upright. Add the history and the fans it’s no wonder potential Superbowl teams the Patriots and the Seahawks struggled here.

The noise will always be the thing that sticks in my mind, it was truly deafening. I was told the day after that it was a tame atmosphere. God help my little ears if I was ever to visit on a record breaking night. Ear plugs please! As we all know the Chiefs dismantled the Raiders and the final chapter of my day was complete.

Now as part of the Chiefs fan group here in the UK I know I have a small role in our special day and creating memories. As a group there will be 134 of our members all sat together on game day. Actual tailgating is off the cards in the Wembley area so a mixture of the soccer and Arrowhead experience it is. Maybe a pub before with a Kansas City style caterer? One thing is or certain, there will be multiple choruses of ‘who’s house?’ echoing around.

The stadium atmosphere? That is really down to NFLUK and the Chiefs organisation. If between them they can educate the casual British NFL fan about the Chiefs fans traditions (Tomohawk chop or the noise levels) I honestly believe the Chiefs will receive the best home atmosphere Wembley has ever seen.

As for you guys travelling across from the States I promise on behalf of little old England you will be as well received in my home as I was in yours.

GO CHIEFS