KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Nebraska and Cincinnati football fans filled the tailgate lots of Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night for the inaugural Kansas City Classic game.
Though, given the shorter driving distance, the amount of Cornhusker fans vastly outweighed the Bearcat fans in attendance.
Nebraska fans are known to travel well, and they took advantage of the short trip for a road game.
“I think it’s just a really unique experience. I’ve always heard about the hype with Nebraska road games,” fan Emily Key told KCTV5.
Though it was a sea of Nebraska red, there were a few Bearcat sightings throughout the crowds.
“I don’t know why they all came, because they’re gonna lose,” Cincinnati fan Billy Kern said.
The Chiefs themselves showed out well. Patrick Mahomes, Trey Smith, George Karlaftis, and several other players were seen on the visitors sideline pregame. Chiefs President Mark Donovan was also out and about on the field pregame.
Travis Kelce was joined by his brother Jason on the field before the game to talk with the Bearcats, to much applause and cheers from the fans in the stands. The two played at Cincinnati back in their college days, before being drafted to the NFL.
Travis Kelce’s fiance, Taylor Swift, eventually joined him in his suite to enjoy the game.
Many fans told KCTV5 before the game they were hoping they’d see Swift at the game.
“Maybe the newly engaged couple will be here. We don’t know, but we’re hoping,” Jaime Kern said.
“I am praying that we see Taylor,” Key said with a smile.
Celebrity appearances aside, getting to watch their favorite college football teams play in an NFL stadium was draw enough to get these thousands of fans to buy tickets to the Kansas City Classic.
“So awesome. We’ve been pumped for this, we bought this in January. And we’ve been planning since January,” a trio of fans said.
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