An Addict Writer’s First Trip to Arrowhead Stadium For Chiefs vs. Raiders

This weekend, I’m one of you.

I’ve been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs for a long time. It wasn’t always that way, though. If you’ve ever taken the eight seconds it takes to read my bio, you’d know that I started out life as a fan of the San Francisco 49ers. Joe Montana was the quarterback and he was throwing to Jerry Rice and John Taylor and handing it off to Roger Craig. Life was good. Then Joe got hurt, Steve Young stepped in and the rest is history. I followed Joe Montana east from San Francisco to Kansas City and have been with the team since.

Unlike other former 49er, now Chiefs fans, I’m not from the bay area. I’m not even from California. I was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. If you didn’t know, the entire state of Montana doesn’t have one million people, much less a professional football team. The options growing up were to be a Seattle Seahawks fan, a Minnesota Vikings fan or a Denver Broncos fan. Even from a young age, I hated the Broncos. My mom was a 49ers fan, and so was I.

Following the team for the last 20 years, I’ve seen the ups and downs. I lived the elation during the Montana playoff wins and the near Superbowl appearance. I cheered the 2003 Chiefs to 9-0 and cried when they lost to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. I was excited when Clark Hunt hired Scott Pioli and then miserable through his entire reign of terror. I’ve been there through it all.

But, unlike the vast majority of Chiefs fans who are in and around the KC area I did it from afar. I did it in front of my television in my living most of the time. The 2008 season, I did it mostly via the internet as I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. This season, I watch much more critically, as I not only am a fan, but now deliver you, the Addicts, my opinion and analysis of the games.

But this weekend, I’m one of you.

I believe John Denver said it best when he sang:

“All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.”

For the first time ever, I’m coming to Kansas City. For the first time ever, I’ll be in the Sea of Red and experience it first-hand instead of listening to the announcers talk about what’s it like. I will get to walk the parking lot of Arrowhead and mingle with all my fellow fans. And I CAN’T WAIT.

This adventure all started during training camp this year. I was talking to my wife (who is awesome, by the way) about an article I was working on for Arrowhead Addict. She turned to me and said: “we should go to KC for training camp.”

I explained that training camp was nearly over, so we would have to wait until next year. She then said we should find a regular season game to go to. That’s where it started. Through my connections here at Addict, I was able to get some tickets from one of the editors. After that, everything just fell into place. I picked the Raider game because it not only fit our schedule, but it’s the Raiders and I wanted to see a rivalry game. It was only coincidence that this is the game where the Sea of Red will bring the title of “loudest stadium” back to Arrowhead. And I’ll be there.

So, as you read this, my wife and I will be boarding a plane from San Antonio, Texas to Kansas City by way of Dallas. We’ll be attending the Sea of Red Tour tonight at Arrowhead this afternoon, and having dinner at Oklahoma Joe’s tonight.

Tomorrow morning, we’ll be at Arrowhead as the sun is coming up. I want the full experience. I’ve already had a couple of Addicts reach out and invite me to their tailgates. But I’m open for more. If you’re going to be at the stadium tomorrow, let me know in the comments section. I would absolutely love to stop by and say hi and share some “breakfast brisket” or an adult beverage with you.

Arrowhead will be rocking and I’ll be there. You’ll know me, I’ll be the one rocking my #11 jersey. The Chiefs haven’t lost since I’ve been wearing it, and like the commercial says, “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work.”

See you tomorrow, Addicts!