The Kansas City Chiefs have announced additional details for Red Wednesday, the 2024 edition of the club's traditional Red Friday celebration that will take place on Wednesday, September 4. The 33rd observance of the legacy event will take place the day before the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens for the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game.
For the 11th consecutive year, the club will sell a limited-edition commemorative flag for a minimum donation of $5 to celebrate this annual tradition and benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. This year's flag – featuring a special back-to-back championship design to honor the team's victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII – will be sold at more than 135 Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald's restaurants, Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners and other public locations throughout the metro area. Net proceeds from flag sales will again benefit RMHC-KC. A complete map of flag sale locations is available at www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/.
Over the past 10 years, the sale of Red Friday flags has raised more than $5.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need. Fans who don't live in the greater Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flags online at shop.chiefs.com beginning the morning of Wednesday, September 4 for $10, with both domestic and international shipping options available for online orders. Net proceeds from online sales domestically will also benefit RMHC-KC.
"The Red Friday – and now Red Wednesday – tradition is one of the most unique ways that the organization and the community come together to support each other as well as support a special cause," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "We've broken some Red Friday records recently and with the back-to-back champions flag, we expect this year will be no different. The work that the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City does for the families they serve, combined with the giving spirit of the community, is inspiring to our entire organization and carrying on this tradition makes for the perfect way to start the 2024 football season."
Red Wednesday (Red Friday) honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $6 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.
Once again, this year's celebration will kick off the week leading up to Red Wednesday and will continue through the home opener against the Ravens with a number of events and other opportunities for the team to connect with the community and for Chiefs Kingdom to connect with the club.
Flag Sales - Wednesday, September 4
Chiefs Kingdom flags will be available at Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald's locations beginning Wednesday morning. Flags will also be available at Kansas City-area Hy-Vee locations and at street corners throughout the metro. Fans outside of the Kansas City and St. Joseph areas can secure their flag at shop.chiefs.com beginning Wednesday morning. Like in-person flag purchases, flags purchased online domestically will benefit RMHC-KC. Fans are encouraged to use the #RedWednesday hashtag on their social media channels when they secure their flag.
Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA - Wednesday, September 4
The fifth-annual Red Wednesday Run presented by GEHA virtual 5K is officially set for Wednesday, September 4. While Red Wednesday serves as the official day of the race, registration for the virtual race is open now and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 6. With no official racecourse for the event, Chiefs fans throughout the country and all over the world can participate in the Red Wednesday Run by running or walking in their neighborhood, in a local park, on a nature trail or from their treadmill.
Registration is currently open at www.chiefs.com/redwednesdayrun/. All registrants will receive this year's special edition Red Wednesday flag benefiting RMHC-KC and a Red Wednesday Run t-shirt mailed directly to the address provided during registration. Additionally, all race participants will receive a seven-day all-access pass redeemable at either Chiefs Fit location. Once participants complete the 5K, they're asked to take a photo in their Chiefs/Red Friday Run gear with their Red Friday flag and post on social media using #RedWednesday.
World's Largest Tailgate - Thursday, September 5
The Chiefs World's Largest Tailgate returns for a second year in a row to help celebrate the start of the football season. As part of the countdown to kickoff of the 2024 season, the Chiefs are inviting fans from around the globe to join in the virtual fun of this year's event, the "Tailgate Games." The show will stream unique tailgate-themed competitions to mobile devices and living rooms across Chiefs Kingdom and throughout the world for free on www.chiefslive.com.
Co-hosted by actor and comedian Rob Riggle and broadcaster Hayley Lewis, the World's Largest Tailgate: Tailgate Games features GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium's iconic tailgate experience, celebrates Chiefs fans' welcoming spirit and highlights the fun of friendly competition. The Broadcast Boys – podcasters Lucas Brody and Nelson Vergara – will serve as special Tailgate Games correspondents while the stream will also feature guest appearances from YouTube star Funny Marco, comedian and actor Desi Banks, actress and comedian Heidi Gardner, as well as Chiefs Hall of Fame WR/KR Dante Hall and others.
The hour-long show begins streaming at 5 p.m. CT from the parking lots outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can visit www.chiefslive.com now to reserve their free virtual seat to attend.
In addition, Chiefs jerseys, flags, artwork, red lighting and other visuals will start appearing around Kansas City beginning today as the city prepares for Red Wednesday and the start of the football season. Specific media opportunities, including interview, b-roll and visual opportunities will be distributed in the coming days.
Additional Red Wednesday information, including a map of sale locations in Kansas City and St. Joseph, as well as the link to purchase flags online, is available at www.chiefs.com/redwednesday/.
