Coming into the Wild Card game between the visiting Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the typical talking points were being thrown out the window. Instead of a repeat Super Bowl run for K.C. or a homecoming for Tyreek Hill, everything this week has been all about the weather. The frigid, freezing, crazy cold weather.
As of game time, the Chiefs had officially taken the field for the coldest game in franchise history. In fact, the temperature at Arrowhead Stadium was negative-4 degrees with a wind chill approaching 30-below.
Official announcement in the pressbox for kickoff. -4 and a wind chill of -27. Officially the 4th coldest game in NFL history, the coldest in Arrowhead history and the coldest game in Chiefs and Dolphins history.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 14, 2024
From concessions to press boxes, everything is basically Hoth from Star Wars.
All week long, not only were temperatures dropping but ticket prices have been as well. Fans could get a ticket for around $25-30 as the game crept closer, which made the game more accessible to some fans who would normally be priced out from a playoff scenario. Of course, those fans had to bundle up.
The early dispatches from the game were of multi-layered fans and hilariously frozen things found in and around Arrowhead. Basically if this was Star Wars, Kansas City is the ice planet Hoth.
As for his homecoming, Tyreek Hill has been quiet for the last few days instead of giving quips to the press like he normally would. Even before the game, the quotes were about the weather.
Tyreek Hill: “I’m freezing my b—-s off out here.” Welcome back. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/yFcEyIAZVJ
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 13, 2024
For those who want a simple bottle of water, it's not so simple in weather this cold.
WILD 🧊 Chiefs vs. Dolphins game is being played in these freezing weather conditions!
— BallTalkSource (@BallTalkSource) January 14, 2024
It's warmer in the fridge!
WATCH THE WATER BOTTLE 😳🥶
pic.twitter.com/kam0d3DvT9
For those in the press box, the windows were at least helping to keep the harsh winds out but they were also frozen over.
Good news (for tonight): Chiefs one of only radio booths where windows don’t open. 🥶
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) January 14, 2024
Bad news: The window keeps freezing over. 👎 pic.twitter.com/uhN3fOPfHi
I mean, even Big Red's mustache is not immune.
Frozen mustache 🥶#MIAvsKC on Peacock
— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2024
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/bTakd7vjlv pic.twitter.com/8nGI2baLm5
It even got so cold that helmets were cracking apart when taking a hit. Here's Mahomes in the third quarter:
Mahomes Helmet….the worst nightmare for a helmet company/maker pic.twitter.com/a90AZPrJCn
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 14, 2024
Of course, there's always one who refuses to adhere to cultural norms. We're also pretty sure alcohol has to be involved somehow.
There’s a shirtless guy at the Dolphins-Chiefs game because of course there is pic.twitter.com/BNnvYeWSES
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) January 14, 2024
We're not sure how warm this jacket will keep you but we're assuming love will handle what this sweet Kelce jacket cannot for Taylor Swift.
Say what you want, that jacket Taylor Swift is wearing goes crazy!!! 🔥🔥🔥
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 14, 2024
pic.twitter.com/W0pgzbr8Yg
The amazing thing about Chiefs Kingdom is how passionate they are about their favorite team. Thus, even when you're talking about record-setting temperatures, it doesn't matter. They're still keen to get to the parking lots as early as possible for a pre-game tailgate.
Kansas City this morning felt like -14° at 9AM.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 13, 2024
Despite the freezing temperatures, Chiefs fans were already waiting in line for tonight's Wild Card matchup vs. the Dolphins 🥶😮💨
(via @KelliPeltierTV) pic.twitter.com/NZRjR39826