Chiefs players call out fans for allowing visiting teams in Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City Chiefs players have called out the team’s fans for allowing too many visiting teams to have a presence at Arrowhead Stadium.

In 2019, Arrowhead Stadium isn’t exactly proving to be Arrowhead Stadium.

Every year, Arrowhead is sold in the media as a deafening place to play, a home turf that overwhelms the weak with passionate fans screaming and cheering so loudly that plays are impossible to call, that audibles are difficult to comprehend, that assignments aren’t easily understood.

In 2014, a Guinness world record mark for loudest stadium was set at Arrowhead in 2014. There’s also this moment of glory against John Elway:

This year, however, things are a bit different. For one, the Chiefs have won only two of five home games this season compared to an unbeaten record of 4-0 on the road. That in itself makes it frustrating for fans to walk away to the jeers of the visitors who were able to get their hands on tickets.

Therein lies the second issue: namely that so many fans have been able to score them. In fact, during the last couple games in particular, fans of NFC North teams like the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings have showed up en masse and overwhelmed the Arrowhead faithful. It’s been enough for players to not only notice but address it.

The first public comments came when Charvarius Ward took to Twitter to express his displeasure at fans selling their tickets to visiting fans.

A few days later, star defensive tackle Chris Jones addressed the same issue and said, “That just can’t happen.”

Sunday’s game was the worst example as faithful fans of Minnesota showed up by the hundreds and colored the stands in a way that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. While it’s understandable to blame the injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the reality is that the Chiefs had no problem selling out games for years without ever having Mahomes on the roster.

This is still a Chiefs team that is a division leader, one that has proven incredibly fun to watch on offense no matter who is under center. Andy Reid has his team on a path to win their fourth division title in a row. In short, this is a current run of unprecedented success. How in the world are the Chiefs having trouble filling the stands?

The Chiefs are used to being on the other side of this, of going into places like San Diego or L.A. and showing up the Chargers with the number of fans who traveled to support their team. It’s even possible the Chiefs show up the Titans this Sunday at Nissan Stadium given Nashville’s proximity and the potential of Mahomes playing again.

It’s clear the players are inspired by a raucous crowd at Arrowhead. Jones and Ward are only saying what even more players and coaches are thinking. Arrowhead is a special place, but those stories will stop being told if the experience doesn’t hold up. Here’s hoping those stories never change.