‘The track record speaks for itself’: Chiefs fans share game day rituals, superstitions
This Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs are headed to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in the AFC Championship. While the team has been hard at work preparing for the game (including following their own game day rituals), fans across the metro have been doing their part to send good vibes and cheer on the Chiefs.
We asked our readers to share their game day rituals and superstitions that bring the Chiefs good luck.
From Patrick Mahomes scented candles to Travis Kelce BBQ, Chiefs fans have a plethora of rituals, routines and superstitions to bring their team good luck.
Here’s what you shared:
Game day attire
Fans everywhere celebrate Red Friday to support the Chiefs ahead of their weekend games. Some fans, like Miriam Gowdy, take the tradition a bit further, wearing the same lucky red clothes each Friday before the Chiefs’ playoff games.
“The last two weeks I’ve worn the same shirt on Friday from the previous week,” Gowdy said. “On Sunday, I wore the same shirt from the previous week & the same red underwear (all washed, of course).”
During games, she said, “I drink the same sour beer in the same icy mugs.”
We can see that the magic is working, but less superstitious people might disagree.
“No comment from my husband after I told him,” Gowdy said.
Snacks
Michael Rieke said he wears the same outfit for each game, including a Chiefs hat and Mahomes jersey. He also makes a big Chiefs buffet, complete with Travis Kelce’s Kitchen burnt ends, BBQ beans and mac ‘n cheese.
“I wanted to try the Kelce foods so I added them to the attire for post-season games,” Rieke wrote The Star.
The tight end launched a line of prepared BBQ meals in October, available exclusively at Walmart.
Reike said, “I added the mac ‘n cheese after the Dolphins game since Buffalo was a step up in competition. I’m considering adding Kelce’s meat balls and sausage for the Ravens game.”
For fans like Daniel Dodson, game day traditions are reminders of their favorite childhood memories. Dodson said his game day tradition is drinking a Hamm’s beer and having some Guy’s Green Onion potato chips.
Dodson said, “I remember Hamm’s at Municipal Stadium when I was a kid, and the green onion chips from the great local chip company and sports sponsor are both the first potato chip I ever knew that wasn’t regular or barbecue, and still the best chip on earth.”
When asked what his friends and family’s thoughts on the ritual he said, “Who cares? The track record speaks for itself.”
Family traditions
Fans’ game day traditions go beyond just sending the Chiefs good juju: they’re also about family traditions.
Denis Meyer told The Star that his family gets together to share special game day snacks and cheer on the team.
“Game day snacks are wontons and hot wings with my own special breading and hot sauce. We lived in Georgia for twenty years and moved back to the KC area two years ago. Those game day snacks were had in Georgia on game day either at my son’s house or ours. Always a Chiefs fan having lived in Platte City for 25 years before moving to Georgia for 20 years,” wrote Dennis Meyer.
“Wontons started when our boys were in middle school back in the 80’s and the wings started when our youngest worked as a short order cook in a pool hall, brought the recipe home and I modified it.”
Dana Ramey’s game day ritual also came from inside the family.
“I have a Derrick Thomas signed mini helmet that I rub for luck before every game,” Ramsey wrote The Star. “I inherited the helmet from my brother after he passed away.”
Home Sweet Mahomes
Multiple readers shared that they burn a Patrick Mahomes scented candle from the local candle makers at Pickwick and Co. while watching the Chiefs play in their homes.
Roger Viola told the Star his wife burns the Home Sweet Mahomes candle to send the Chiefs good luck during every game. “She burns one every game and if the Chiefs get in serious trouble, she lights the other one, too.”
Viola said, “It works... most of the time... so, how can you not believe in it?”
The Home Sweet Mahomes candle, with notes of sandalwood, tonka and tobacco, is just one of Pickwick and Co.’s Chiefs scented candles. They also make One Kingdom and Mahomes for the Holidays candles, as well as a sold-out limited edition Love Potion no. 87.
Chris Lahey said he and his wife, Robin, also burn the Home Sweet Mahomes candle during games, as well as red Scenesy wax melts. He wrote, “Me and my wife hang the Chiefs flag off the front porch then light a Mahomes scented candle and then burn the Chiefs themed Scenesy warmer every game.”
The Laheys have had this ritual for about three years.
“It works pretty well,” Lahey said. “The grandkids think we’re kinda funny, but it’s ok, we enjoy it. We’ll take all the help we can get.”
A winning environment
Creating the right vibes for a Chiefs win requires a perfect balance of energy. Just one fan in the wrong spot can throw it all off.
Gary Childress knows this well.
“I sit in my favorite recliner,” wrote Childress. “If the Chiefs are not playing well, I get up and stand behind the chair. I keep moving around the room until I find a spot that improves the play, then I stand there as long as they are playing well, even if I need to use the bathroom. If that Chiefs are not playing well by halftime, I change Chief’s hoodies. I changed hoodies at half-time for the Bills game and it worked well.”
When asked how the superstition started, Childress said, “I got up 20 years ago to get a drink and all of a sudden the Chiefs scored a TD.”
“My friends text me when the Chiefs are playing well and tell me not to move,” he said.
Noble sacrifice
While some fans must be in the perfect spot in view of the game, others have to be as far away from the team as possible.
Tom and Brenda Zickuhr told The Star they send the Chiefs good luck by avoiding the games.
“When we moved to KC our friends noticed that the Chiefs lost when we watched the game,” the Zickuhrs wrote. “They text us to remind us not to watch.”
From all of us in Chiefs Kingdom, Tom and Brenda, we appreciate your sacrifice.
