For the 23rd consecutive year, the Chiefs and the Kansas City community are celebrating Red Friday, the official kickoff for the start of the football season. Red Friday will take place on Friday, Sept. 5, two days before the Chiefs open the season vs. the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium.
To honor the long-standing tradition of selling special-edition newspapers started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters more than two decades ago, a newly developed piece of Chiefs memorabilia will be sold to fans at key locations throughout the greater Kansas City area. This year, instead of a Red Friday magazine, Chiefs executives, former Chiefs players, Red Coaters, local business leaders, dignitaries, media personalities and hundreds of volunteers will be selling "This is Chiefs Kingdom" flags at select street corners from 6:30 – 9 a.m. on Red Friday.
A suggested donation of $4 is encouraged for fans wishing to obtain the official Chiefs Kingdom flag, which will be available at more than 170 locations, including all Kansas City and St. Joseph-area McDonald's restaurants. Through a partnership with McDonald's, the net proceeds from this year's flag sales will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper and magazine sales have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities, with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.
In addition to purchasing a Chiefs Kingdom flag at participating locations, fans are also encouraged to show their Red Friday spirit by wearing Chiefs gear all day and by visiting the free Red Friday pep rally at Union Station, which will be part of "Kansas City Celebrates at the Station." The event, a free family friendly joint initiative of the Chiefs, Union Station and the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, is designed to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Kansas City's famed transportation landmark.
The evening begins with a free concert by country-rock recording artist and Kansas native, Logan Mize. Following the concert, Chiefs players, Chiefs Cheerleaders, staff and other team personalities, such as KC Wolf will take the stage for the annual Red Friday pep rally. A laser-based video show developed by Quixotic, the Kansas City-based innovative performance company, will be a visual celebration of 100 years of Kansas City history based around iconic Union Station. The evening will conclude with a fireworks extravaganza above the landmark and downtown Kansas City.
As is always the case on each and every Red Friday throughout the season, fans can connect with each other and their favorite team online by sharing photos and updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #RedFriday.
WEEK OF RED FRIDAY MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Wednesday, Sept. 3 – Liberty Memorial (hill facing Union Station)
4 p.m. – Painting of KC arrowhead logo
Media Availability with Chiefs CFO Dan Crumb, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City CEO Holly Buckendahl, Union Station President and CEO George Guastello and National World War I Museum President and CEO Matthew Naylor (weather permitting).
Thursday, Sept. 4 – City Hall
11:30 a.m. – Raising of Chiefs Kingdom flag at City Hall
Brief remarks from Chiefs President Mark Donovan and Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
Friday, Sept. 5
6:45 – 7:15 a.m.
Flag sales kick off with Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt at McDonald's (7124 W. 119th St., Overland Park).
7:30 – 8 a.m.
Flag sales at Sprint with Clark Hunt and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. (Park in northwest corner of Garage P on south side of Sprint campus. Meet outside building 6300, 6220, Winter Garden and Garage P).
Approximately 8:15 a.m.
Season Ticket Member special delivery from Clark Hunt (call Chiefs Communications for address).
Approximately 8:45 a.m.
Season Ticket Member special delivery from Clark Hunt (call Chiefs Communications for address).
KC Celebrates at the Station
5 p.m.
"KC Celebrates at the Station" free event opens to public at Union Station.
6:30 p.m.
Logan Mize concert live outside Union Station.
7:30 p.m.
Chiefs Red Friday Pep Rally begins with Chiefs players, coaches, executives and team personalities.
8:45 p.m.
Union Station Revealed: The Monument Comes Alive in Breathtaking Multimedia Outdoor Digital Show presented by Ivy Funds, Waddell & Reed, Inc. and National World War I Museum video show displayed on the façade of Union Station.
Immediately Following Video Show
Spectacular fireworks extravaganza.
RED FRIDAY VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Arrowhead Out and About: Chiefs fans will be able to see the iconic Chiefs arrowhead logo painted in a variety of locations throughout the Kansas City area, including: Liberty Memorial, Kansas City International Airport and Ward Parkway (near intersection of Ward Parkway and Shawnee Mission Parkway).
The City of (Red) Fountains: Known as the City of Fountains, the Chiefs are partnering with Kansas City Parks and Recreation to turn a number of the city's fountains red starting Friday morning to celebrate the first Red Friday of the 2014 season:
- J.C. Nichols Fountain (47th and J.C. Nichols Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64112)
- Sea Horse Fountain (W. Meyer Blvd. and Ward Pkwy, 6355 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64113)
- Women's Leadership Fountain (E. 9th St. and The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64127)
- Westside Fountain (Southwest Boulevard and Summit Street, Kansas City, MO 64117)
- Spirit of Freedom Fountain (4700 Cleveland Ave., Kansas City, MO 64130)
- Northland Fountain (North Oak Trafficway and Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO 64116)
- Concourse Fountain (Benton Boulevard and St. John Ave.)
- Children's Fountain (N. Oak and 32nd Ave., in Waterworks Park)
Painting the Sky Red:On Friday during the morning commute, fans will be able to see a "Sky" of Red as a team of smoke writer airplanes will release red smoke over downtown Kansas City to help kick off Red Friday (Subject to change pending weather).
Flying the Flag High Over Chiefs Kingdom: Approximately 200 large "This is Chiefs Kingdom" flags will be distributed to locations around town that will fly them in support of the first Red Friday of the 2014 season.
Get Ready for the Game at the Red Friday Pep Rally: Starting at 7:30 p.m. outside Kansas City's Union Station, Chiefs fans can help celebrate 100 years of the iconic landmark and can get ready for the first game of the season as 'Voice of the Chiefs' Mitch Holthus and Sports Radio 810 WHB's Steven St. John lead the annual Red Friday pep rally. Select Chiefs players will make appearances on-stage at the event, as well as Chiefs Cheerleaders, KC Wolf and the Chiefs Rumble. Prior to the Chiefs Red Friday pep rally, fans will be treated to a free concert. Following the pep rally, the night will conclude with a laser video show and a fireworks extravaganza.
Take Time to Enjoy the Red Lights: Several landmark buildings in the greater Kansas City area will light up in Chiefs colors on Friday evening, including: Union Station, Downtown Marriott Hotel, Boulevard Brewery, Wornall Bridge, Plaza's 47th St. Path of Gold, Giralda Tower on the Plaza, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Bartle Hall, AMC Alamo Drafthouse and Sister Cities Bridge.
For a complete list and map of flag sale locations, please visit www.kcchiefs.com/redfriday.
