Some people look forward to Christmas. Other people look forward to Thanksgiving. One staff writer looks forward to NFL Draft day with his father.
We’ve bought all the draft guides we could find. We’ve listened to all the experts and watched all the film we could find. For a couple of regular guys living in Marshall, MO, we have absorbed about as much draft information as we can get our hands on. The only thing left is to settle in to watch the draft which starts this Thursday night.
While most people watch the first round at home, my Dad and I will be sitting inside the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility. We’ve been attending the Chiefs draft party since they had the first one in 2010. We missed the 2015 party when my dad had hip replacement surgery; otherwise we have hit them all. If you have never been to one, I would recommend it.
The first couple years the tickets were $25 apiece and open to the general public. They have had the party inside the practice facility every year except for 2011. That year the party was held inside of the newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium. It was a bit of a show off event and fans got to take tours of the stadium while we waited for the pick to come in.
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Things have changed a little bit in the seven drafts since that first party in 2010, when we watched Eric Berry put on the red and gold hat for the first time. Today the party is an exclusive event, only open to fans who’ve signed up for the Chiefs Kingdom Rewards program. As season ticket holders, we are members of the program as well as have a decent amount of points saved up. So I’ve already gotten my tickets in hand and even spent a few extra points to get reserved seating. With reserved seating, we don’t have to get there early, but we will still be there when the doors open at 6:00 p.m.
We’ll get in and find our table sitting on the field turf inside the practice facility. The Chiefs do a fantastic job with this event, and it’s easy to see from the minute you walk inside. There are current and former players signing autographs. It’s almost impossible not to run into a cheerleader or two and KC Wolf as you walk around the huge open field. The back of the facility is littered with merchandise as it seems like they bring the whole team store across the parking lot. The rewards program has lots of prizes up for auction on their site including meet-and-greets with players, Andy Reid, and Clark Hunt. They have a John Dorsey meet-and-greet as well, but I already won that auction, so I’m sorry but that’s mine.
What would a party be without food and drinks, right? You have it in spades at this party, and the best part is most of it is free. The only thing you have to pay for is the beer, and even then, the Chiefs give you the first one of those on the house. This means a lot especially with a draft like this year, when the Chiefs don’t pick until No. 27. The draft party starts at 6:00pm but the Chiefs won’t pick until after 9:00pm, so you get three hours or more to eat and drink yourself silly.
This is our thing to do together, and after a year of preparation, we are both ready for draft day.
The best part about the whole thing, though, is the other fans there. Unlike a game, you know every person in that room is there for the same reason you are. Nobody is there for another team; nobody is there because it’s a cool thing to do or they got some free tickets. If you are at this event it’s because you are a die-hard who chose to be there. Everyone is talking about the same thing and it’s a great experience to talk to other fans and compare notes, especially as the draft progresses.
Watching the draft progress is where the real fun is. The first year the Chiefs had the fifth pick so the night went pretty quick. The best years are ones like this year, when the Chiefs pick late in the draft so you get to sit there all night long and watch as the picks come rolling in. Both my Dad and I have our draft scenarios and books handy as we break down every pick being made. We compare notes on where we had that guy going and whether it a reach or a great pick. Then of course, we break it down to how that affects the Chiefs based on who is left and what teams will do now.
If you are reading this and will be at the party you should be able to find my Dad and I pretty easy. We’ll be sitting at one of the tables in the front of the facility just off the stage. You’ll see a stack of papers and books on and around our table as we bring our notes with us. When others are up walking around, we are glued to our chairs as we wait for the commissioner to step up to the podium with each pick. After the pick is made, you’ll see us combing our books and marking the name off our draft boards as we break it down.
Some people may think we take the draft too seriously and that we are little nuts. I know my wife does. As you get older, you don’t have time for the same stuff. We don’t have time for games of catch in the backyard. There isn’t time to make it to every game during the season like we did when I was little. He has a business to run and a lot of yard work and golfing to do in Branson. I have a job, three kids and a wife I try to find time to go on a date with when I can. But one thing we both find time for every year is draft day. This is our thing to do together, and after a year of preparation, we are both ready for draft day.