Important Fan Information For Thursday's 2023 NFL Kickoff Game At GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium

Chiefs vs. Lions, Presented by T-Mobile, Kicks Off at 7:20 P.M.

Sep 07, 2023 at 12:59 PM

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 7 in the club's 2023 first regular season home game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can find important information and reminders regarding Thursday's game below.

Banner Night and Game Entertainment

During pregame, the Kansas City Chiefs will celebrate the franchise's third Super Bowl title with a short on-field ceremony that concludes with the unveiling of a new championship banner inside the stadium. "Voice of the Chiefs" Mitch Holthus will lead the ceremony, which will feature Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt.

Pregame entertainment will also include a performance from the Kansas City Boys Choir and Kansas City Girls Choir singing 'Lift Every Voice.' For more information on the choirs visit www.kcbcgc.org. Nine-time Grammy nominee and five-time Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the year Natalie Grant will sing the national anthem while the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will present the colors. The flyover will be conducted by the 110th and 393rd Bomb Squadron's B-2 Stealth Bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base.

Parking and Traffic

Parking lots for Thursday's game open at 3:00 p.m. Passes are mobile only and must be purchased in advance at www.chiefs.com/stadium/parking/. Parking is only permitted for fans with tickets to the game. Fans can access all tickets and passes through www.mychiefsaccount.com or the Chiefs Mobile app prior to arrival and are encouraged to save to their mobile wallet for easy access.

Heavy delays are expected due to rush hour traffic on Interstates 435 and 70, as well as streets around the Truman Sports Complex due to the start time of Thursday's game. Fans are asked to plan in advance and arrive several hours prior to kickoff to avoid rush hour and minimize delays. It is suggested that drivers who are not going to the game but normally travel past the Truman Sports Complex identify an alternate route to avoid rush hour back-ups. Fans can track traffic and construction through the KC Scout camera network at www.kcscout.com/ or can get real-time traffic updates on the WAZE app. All fans should visit www.chiefs.com/parking to make their travel and parking game plan.

Guests using rideshare services may drop-off and pick-up at the Missouri Welcome Center located between Gates 1 and 2 on Blue Ridge Cutoff. Fans can find additional information and view an interactive parking map by visiting www.chiefs.com/map.

Tune In

Fans who are unable to attend Thursday's game can tune in to WDAF-FM (106.5 The Wolf), the Home of the Chiefs Radio Network, as "Voice of the Chiefs" Mitch Holthus, former Chiefs WR Danan Hughes and sideline reporter Josh Klingler call the action. Tico Sports will produce a Spanish-language broadcast available on the Audacy app ("Chiefs en Espanol") within the Kansas City market and on KSSA La Ke Buena (105.9 FM) in Garden City, Kansas, as well as KSMM 1770 AM in Liberal, Kansas, featuring Enrique Morales, Oscar Monterroso and sideline reporter Hannah Bassham. Both radio broadcasts are also available to stream on the Chiefs Mobile app within a 50-mile radius of the Kansas City metro area. Thursday night's national game will be broadcast on NBC (KSHB 41 locally) where play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico, analyst Cris Collinsworth and sideline reporter Melissa Stark will deliver the call.

Stadium Gates and Mobile Entry

All GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium gates will open at 5:00 p.m. for the 7:20 p.m. kickoff. Gates for guests with tickets on the CommunityAmerica Club Level will open at 4:30 p.m. Guests are reminded to access their mobile tickets and parking passes in advance of the event and add them to their mobile wallet for expedited entry.

World's Largest Tailgate Presented by Bud Light Takes Over Ford Tailgate District

To welcome all fans back to football the Chiefs will host World's Largest Tailgate presented by Bud Light, a virtual tailgate and concert experience hosted live from the Ford Tailgate District and streamed to mobile devices, living rooms, restaurants, bars and fan clubs in Chiefs Kingdom and around the globe.

Hosted by the Merrell Twins, Kansas City-born YouTube stars, the show will feature a performance by the American DJ/producer duo Two Friends, as well as segments with Saturday Night Live's Heidi Gardner, influencer Tabitha Swatosh, and appearances by Donna Kelce (mother of the Kelce brothers), Chiefs legends and other special guests. The 90-minute show begins at 4:30 p.m.

Fans attending the NFL Kickoff Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium can attend the live stage show

and concert inside the Ford Tailgate District, although space will be limited and will be filled on a first-come,

first-served basis. Fans who are not attending the game are invited to visit www.chiefslive.com now to reserve their virtual seat.

The Ford Tailgate District, located in Lot M on the north side of the stadium closest to Lancer Lane, will open at 3:30 p.m. Regular programming will run from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. and will resume after the World's Largest Tailgate presented by Bud Light through kickoff with regular activations available throughout the day. The Ford Tailgate District is a free space for all fans to enjoy drinks, food trucks, tailgating games and live entertainment leading up to kickoff. This week the district will include live music from DJ Lazer, the Mission Taco Food Truck, the EA Sports Madden Cruiser where fans can play Madden 24, an Oakley trailer with displays and more.

GEHA Deck

The Chiefs introduced the GEHA Deck in 2019 as the home for two gameday traditions – the Drum Honoree and the Tony DiPardo Spirit Leader. Chad Henne, former Chiefs quarterback, will serve as this week's Drum Honoree. The Tony DiPardo Spirit Leader will be Sanay Cherry-Owens, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Missouri Youth of the Year.

Lamar Hunt Legacy Seat

To help celebrate the franchise's 60th season in 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs introduced the Lamar Hunt Legacy Seat at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. For each home game, the club selects a Season Ticket Member to honor with this special recognition. The two gold seats are located in Section 121 of the lower bowl, symbolically positioned under Lamar Hunt's name in the team's Ring of Honor.

This week's Lamar Hunt Legacy Seat honoree is Kelly Kennedy, a long-time elementary school teacher and high school swim coach from Haysville, Kansas. Kennedy is the co-founder of Swim to a Wish, a community fundraiser for Make-A-Wish of Missouri and Kansas.

Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle

This week's 50/50 Raffle beneficiary is Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. Raffle tickets are priced at the primetime special of 10 for $10, 60 for $20 and 200 tickets for $40.

Fans who are not at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday can also participate in the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle by visiting www.chiefs.com/fans/5050raffle. Online sales are currently live, but fans must be located in the states of Missouri or Kansas at the time they purchase a ticket online. In-person raffle tickets will remain on sale through the end of the third quarter. The winning ticket will be announced in-stadium and posted online during the fourth quarter of the game and winners do not need to be present to win. Credit and debit cards will be the only form of payment accepted by 50/50 raffle sellers.

Cashless

All concession stands and retail points of sale are completely cashless. In addition to traditional scan and chip reader options for credit/debit cards, all fixed points of sale offer mobile tap or scan payment options, including Chiefs Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. In-stadium hawkers and vendors are credit card only.

Safety and Security

The NFL's clear bag policy is in place for all events at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Fans can visit www.chiefs.com/stadium/clearbag for important information on the clear bag policy and a complete list of permitted and prohibited items. Although the clear bag policy is in place, guests are encouraged to avoid bringing a bag into the stadium, if at all possible, to expedite their entry process. Fans can visit www.chiefs.com/stadium/prohibitedpermitteditems for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items.

Guests will experience a more seamless entry through the CEIA OPENGATE security screening technology at all stadium entry gates this season. As guests approach the stadium, they should keep items in their pockets and/or clear bags as they pass through the new advanced screening devices while following the direction of security personnel. All fans should keep moving through the screening gates at a normal pace, as there is no need to wait for the person in front or to stop unless otherwise directed.

If guests have questions or need assistance, including with accessible services, they can contact Fan Experience at (816) 920-4237 or by email at fanexperience@chiefs.com. Beginning at 3:00 p.m. on event day, guests can also text (816) 920-4237 with location and issue.