Live coverage: Chiefs celebrate Super Bowl win with a parade in Kansas City

Reed Hoffmann

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AP

After a very very very early morning and a long day of partying, we're winding down this live blog. Thanks for following along, Chiefs Kingdom!

You can see all the best photos of the day here, thanks to our incredible photographers and reporters all around the city.

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Photos: Kansas City turns red as Chiefs fans throw a massive 2023 Super Bowl victory party

Savannah Hawley-Bates

And if you want to support all the work that goes into covering events like this — and reporting on Kansas City year-round — we'd love if you'd consider becoming a KCUR member!

What better way to show your Kansas City pride?

Carlos Moreno

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KCUR 89.3

Julie Denesha

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KCUR 89.3

I'm not good at estimating crowd sizes but I'd say probably a bajillion people were there.

Julie Denesha

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Photos by our own Julie Denesha.

Celisa Calacal

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Crowds are beginning to disperse from the rally and parade area, but the memories? Those are forever.

Ashlyn Vaughn and Sammy Vanzante were standing right against the barricades when Mahomes came up to them and touched their hands.

"It doesn't feel real!" Vaughn said afterward.

Celisa Calacal

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KCUR 89.3

Miara Mahan got to Grand Boulevard at 6 a.m. and was standing by the barricades outside recordBar, wearing Kelce's No. 87 jersey, when the parade passed.

Mahan says it was her dream to meet Kelce. "He's so fine and tall," she said. "I'm so in love with him."

NFL

You'll get to see crowds like this in just a few months when Kansas City hosts the 2023 NFL Draft — same place, right outside Union Station.

The Draft is scheduled to take place April 27-29, and admission is free. So far, Kansas City has allocated $3 million to put on the event.

Let's hope the weather is at least as good as today!

The Chiefs rally came to a close with two of the team's most offensive and controversial traditions: The "tomahawk chop" and war chant.

According to a 2020 study from the University of Michigan, 65% of Native Americans who frequently engage in tribal or cultural practices take offense at the "chop."

Luke X. Martin

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KCUR 89.3

On stage, the confetti is still going strong.

Together, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have 11 playoff wins.

Before leading the crowd in screaming "you got to fight for your right to party," Kelce said it's time to run it back again next year.

"Chiefs Kingdom, we do this for you guys," Kelce told the crowd. "I want you guys to genuinely know this, we do this for you guys."

"This is a dynasty, y'all just didn't know 'til now."

With Patrick Mahomes cradling the Vince Lombardi trophy, the Kansas City Chiefs have taken the stage at Union Station, drinking beer and spraying champagne on the crowd.

"Big Red" Andy Reid said he's grateful for everyone in the crowd.

"I tell you what, there's some great cities in America but there's no place you'd rather be and no greater place to be than right here, baby. You are the kingdom. I'm very proud of these guys on the stage, very proud of our entire organization. Not very often are you able to say you're the greatest team in the world and have the greatest players in the world and the greatest organization and the greatest fans in the world."

Mahomes said he's not done yet.

"We're back again. before we started this season, the AFC West said we were rebuilding. I'm going to be honest, I don't know what rebuilding means," Mahomes said. "In our rebuilding year, we're world champs.... This is just the beginning, we ain't done yet. I'll make sure to get y'all back next year!"

Owner Clark Hunt walked on stage holding the team's third Lombardi Trophy.

"You are world champions for the third time. It is so great to be back here celebrating with you, and I'm glad it didn't take another 50 years. There is nothing like the pure joy of a Super Bowl parade. It's a joy of sharing it with the people you love, it's the joy of knowing the hard work it takes to get here."

Hunt mentioned that 10 rookies played in the Super Bowl for the Chiefs, and two of them made touchdowns. Not to mention Patrick Mahomes, who was the first person since 1999 to win both the NFL season MVP and the Super Bowl MVP honors.

"I'm so proud of this team, their fight, their resilience, their heart," Hunt said. "As the great Mitch Holthus told the world, 'You can doubt the Chiefs, you can dislike the Chiefs, you can disrespect the Chiefs, but you're going to have to deal with the Chiefs.'"

That would be Kansas City native and "voice of the Chiefs" Mitch Holthus, who took the stage just moments before.

"For the second time in four seasons, there's a red and gold reflection on the Lombardi trophy. A big, red reflection... People were predicting we would not make the playoffs, the kingdom would be covered in coal by Halloween.

"This team, your champions of Super Bowl 57, are a forevers team."

While thousands and thousands of Kansas City Chiefs fans do the "chop," it's worth mentioning that this team's traditions, branding and name are seen by Native Americans as a mockery and a "cruel insult" — not an honor. It's also why football fans around the country, and even in Kansas City, feel they still can't root for this team.

“Our people were rounded up, kids stolen from their families, sent to boarding schools … and stripped of their culture and identity,” says Rhonda LeValdo, a Haskell Indian Nations University professor, Acoma Pueblo activist and founder of the Not In Our Honor coalition. “Their religion was outlawed, they could not practice their ceremonies, they couldn't sing their songs. So why is it OK for the fans in Kansas City to play Indian, when our people weren't allowed to be Indian?”

According to the American Psychological Association, “a growing body of social science literature shows the harmful effects of racial stereotyping and inaccurate racial portrayals, including the particularly harmful effects of American Indian sports mascots on the social identity development and self-esteem of American Indian young people.”

KCUR's Lawrence Brooks III has this story.

News

As Kansas City Chiefs head to the Super Bowl, their violent traditions alienate even some local fans

Lawrence Brooks IV

Listen • 4:19

Kansas City's own Tech N9ne is running this rally like it's one of his concerts. He kicked it off with his song "KCMO Anthem," which samples Queen's "We Will Rock You."

At least from afar, it sounded like everyone in the crowd was singing along.

"This is indeed the biggest crowd I've performed in front of in the history of my career," Tech N9ne said between songs. "Kansas City is the biggest crowd I've ever had right now."

He then performed "Red Kingdom," his 2019 hit that has become a de facto anthem for the Chiefs.

"We won the Super Bowl. I was there right behind the bench with the Chiefs. I love it, this feels amazing. It's cold but this feels amazing."

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas opened the victory rally: "We know we love our team. Sometimes they were underestimated. Sometimes they were doubted. But we knew that we had the greatest coach in the world, the greatest quarter back in the world, the greatest team in the world, and all part of the greatest city in the world."

Right after, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson walked onto the stage to a mixture of cheers and boos.

"It is a great day to be the 57th governor when all you fans back home brought back the 57th Super Bowl trophy," Parson told the crowd. "What a great day for our state."

Carlos Moreno

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In between passing out cigars, safety Juan Thornill is celebrating his second Super Bowl win with the Chiefs.

He said "better luck next year" to the Philadelphia Eagles, but that today is about Kansas City.

"A two-time champion, not a one-time champion, but a two-time champion, baby!" Thornhill says. "We the champions of this whole league — we the best in the league, we run this. We've been pushing, working hard every day since July. Everybody doubted us but we the team of the league."

Carlos Moreno

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KCUR 89.3

Union Station will finally get its glimpse of Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes — the bus kept stopping so Mahomes could get out and talk to fans.

A group along Grand Boulevard brought another companion with them to the parade: a life-size cutout of Elvis Presley.

The group, who didn't want to provide their names, hope Elvis will get the attention of Chiefs players.

"It's also a proven fact that kings recognize kings. So we're hoping that at least Patrick Mahomes will acknowledge Elvis is at the parade to celebrate the event."

Celisa Calacal

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KCUR 89.3

Meanwhile, some fans have climbed up light poles and trees just to see a glimpse of players.

Offensive tackle Orlando Brown, wearing Uggs and a fur coat, walked along the barricades greeting fans. He also wore a shirt saying: "0 sacks, put that on your f**ing t-shirt" — a nod to his comments after the Super Bowl game in which Mahomes wasn't sacked a single time thanks to the Chiefs offensive line.

“It’s really cool to see a city come together like this, and that sense of community that you get just walking down the street seeing everybody just be in a good mood, happy, wearing red," says Ben Trofholz, who was setting up before the parade with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The views from the parade route and Union Station right now, from KCUR photographers Carlos Moreno and Julie Denesha.

Carlos Moreno

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Julie Denesha

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Julie Denesha

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Julie Denesha

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Julie Denesha

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KCUR 89.3

The parade route is moving, and we are on celebrity and politician watch!

Of course, there's one man who everyone wants to see: Patrick Mahomes shook the hands of fans along the barricades, while wearing what seems to be his signature look: ski goggles, a red jacket, and a WWE Championship belt.

After at time, he got back on his bus, which was also carrying Travis Kelce and his mom, Donna Kelce.

Here's who else is at the parade:

• Kansas City-area U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II and Mark Alford are on a float joined by Chiefs cheerleaders.
• Also spotted have been Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, and Mayor Quinton Lucas in a red pickup truck.
• Actors and Kansas City natives Eric Stonestreet and Rob Riggle drove by on a golf cart, while the Hunt family, who own the Chiefs, are escorting the Vince Lombardi trophy on a double decker bus joined by coach Andy Reid and his family.
• A special teams float escorted punter Tommy Townsend and kicker Harrison Butker who made the game winning field goal on Sunday. Townsend gave nearby fans a champagne shower.
• On another bus, defensive tackles Khalen Saunders and Chris Jones celebrated with beers in hand.

Notice all that confetti? There's 200 pounds of it loaded into cannons along the parade route.

Celisa Calacal

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KCUR 89.3

One of the slight, minor inconveniences about waiting hours for a Chiefs celebration parade? Where to use the bathroom.

There's a handful of restroom areas scattered around the area, including this group of blue Porta Potties near Messenger Coffee.

By 11 a.m., the waiting line was dozens of people deep. 21-year-old Cameron Auch was one of those waiting. "I just know I need to go and people keep cutting in line," he said. "I mean, it is what it is."

Auch says he hopes Travis Kelce takes his shirt off during the parade.

The parade is getting underway! You can watch the procession and the rally at Union Station courtesy of our partners at KSHB.

Fans are packed in round City Market and all along Grand waiting for the parade to kick off at noon.

Spotted in the crowd: A child holding a sign that says "I get to party with Chiefs Kingdom for my 7th birthday."

Carlos Moreno

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KCUR 89.3

Of course, there's also a few games of catch going on to pass the time — shoutout to the people launching it all the way across the boulevard. Mahomes, need a backup QB?

Matt Slocum

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Associated Press

The Chiefs are on their way to becoming the NFL’s next dynasty, says Patrick Allen, vice president of content at FanSided and cohost of the Arrowhead Addict Podcast.

Allen spoke with KCUR's Up To Date during the show's live broadcast from Grand Boulevard this morning. He says that after winning their second championship in three Super Bowl appearances — and this year with many rookies on the team — the team has proven itself

“This was a brand new offense, essentially, and they had a ton of new guys starting on defense,” Allen says. “Those guys should only get better. If they can win the Super Bowl in a year like this, they can win it any year with number 15.”

Comparisons between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady have been going on for a while now, but Allen says not to do any “ring counting” yet.

Zach Perez

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“Mahomes certainly has a chance to win as many titles as Brady,” Allen says. “He's young, but he still would probably have to play for a long time. I don't look at it in terms of rings, I look at it in terms of stats and just his overall level of play. (Mahomes) is more talented physically than Brady is, and he's already got two Super Bowls and he's 27 years old.”

While the Chiefs are likeable, Allen says the more they win, the more the team is likely to “become the bad guys” to other fans in the league. His advice to Chiefs fans now? “Sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Laura Ziegler

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54-year-old Tony Fuller was just a baby when the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl in 1969.

He was in place early this morning in front of Union Station, where a rally with players and coaches will take place at 1:45. He says he loves this team.

“I’m so happy, I’ve been through all the bad times and now the good times are coming," Fuller said. "And it’s just so fortunate and I’m so glad. No one can ruin my happiness. You can try all you want — you cannot ruin this for me. I’m good to go. I’m so happy that my Chiefs have won again and we’re champions again."

Kansas City Police have reported that a 9-year-old child wearing a Mahomes jersey, who was reported missing this morning, has been successfully located.

If you get separated from your child or your group, don't panic! Police have set up several reunification areas around the parade and rally area.

• UMB Bank | 928 Grand Blvd (map) 
• The Kansas City Missouri Police Department | 1125 Locust St (map) 
• T-Mobile Center Concourse | 14th & Grand (map) 
• Resurrection Downtown | 1601 Grand Blvd (map) 
• UMB Bank | 1800 Grand Blvd (map)  
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield – West side entrance | 2301 Main St (map) 
• Lunchland at Crown Center | 2475 Grand (map) | Located on the Third Level above SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER 

Julie Denesha

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KCUR 89.3

The brownish swath of grass in front of Union Station and the World War I Memorial and Museum is starting to turn red as fans trickle in this morning.

This is where the Super Bowl parade will end up for a victory rally around 1:45 p.m. (It's also where the NFL Draft will be staged in April!)

Here's the view from the other side:

And from above:

Let's see if the crowds can fill in the whole field.

Classrooms across the Kansas City metro have emptied out because, well, who would show up anyways?

Kansas City Public Schools, Lee's Summit, Grandview, Fort Osage, North Kansas City, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley... pretty much everywhere has canceled classes so students can celebrate them with their families.

One of them is 12-year-old Andrew Riffle, who joined KCUR's Up To Date for their live broadcast.

Host Steve Kraske asked him about why he was wearing a Clyde Edwards-Helaire jersey, Riffle answered: "He was good last year, but this year he's not that great, but it's the only jersey I had."

A group of friends, many of them season ticketholders, gathered on Grand Boulevard near recordBar to watch the Chiefs victory parade. They staked out the same spot three years ago for the 2020 victory parade. The women, who have been friends for decades, call themselves the "Golden Girls."

Peggy Lowe

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KCUR 89.3

If Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are BFFs, so too are Todd Henderson and Andrew Hamline — even if they've just known each other a couple of hours.

Kansas City, Kansas, resident Henderson wore wearing a Mahomes jersey, was next to Hamline, in a Kelse jersey by 6 a.m. at 7th Street and Grand Boulevard. “The perfect pair,” said Hamline, who lives in Brookside.

They already plan on being in the exact same spot next year at this time — because the Chiefs are a dynasty, said Henderson.

“We’re always winning. We’re always in the AFC championship. We got two rings. On the way with another next year,” Henderson said. “This is what dynasty teams do.”

Henderson bought a 12-pack of Boulevard Wheat beer and hoped to share it with Mahomes today.

Peggy Lowe

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The Chiefs Victory Parade is multi-generational for the Kahler family. And a matter of subtraction.

Just ask Randy Kahler, 62, how long he’s been a Chiefs fan: “Oh my god. I remember Super Bowl IV .” So that means he’s witnessed 53 Super Bowls. And now his son Trevor Kahler, 36, is trying to catch up.

Randy drove from Branson, Missouri, for the Super Bowl LVII parade, and joined Trevor, who lives in north Kansas City, next to the barricade at 8th Street and Grand Boulevard by 6 a.m. "It’s just a great day, something that doesn’t happen all the time,” Randy said. “You gotta take advantage of it.”

But does Randy remember just who played in Super Bowl IV? Yep, it was the Chiefs against the Minnesota Vikings. And who won? Yep, his Chiefs.

OK so, not the warmest day out, but that sure isn't stopping anyone.

Mohaimin Alwaely from northeast Kansas City, was stationed in front of Union Station with a group of friends, all students at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. School was canceled today. They grilled themselves some breakfast around 7 a.m.

“We found a great spot, and we’ve got an amazing view,” Alwaely said. “As soon as we won the Super Bowl, we knew we needed to have a cookout with all our friends and stuff.”

Christopher Fortune

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KCUR 89.3

Nearby, Lynn “Weird Wolf” Schmidt, was decked out in costume, face painted and holding a green and silver rubber chicken.

He said he’s most excited to see the players walk from the buses to the stage in front of Union Station and watch Travis Kelce amp up the crowd. He says he fell in love with the Chiefs more than 50 years ago.

“Christmas Day 1971, I fell in love with my Chiefs that day. It was the longest game ever, we lost that game. But the heart and soul that the team put into it – I was so fired up. I‘ve just loved them ever since.”

Christopher Fortune

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KCUR 89.3

By 6:15 a.m., thousands of people were already lined up along the parade route across downtown.

Ramon Rodriguez, from Overland Park, was out in front of Union Station with his family at 4 a.m., but said he would have been there earlier if he could.

Rodriguez camped out overnight ahead of the 2020 Super Bowl parade, when temperatures were in the teens. Why? Simple.

“We’re Chiefs fans and we like sports and, right now, to support my city,” Rodriguez said.

Jesse Carrera drove back to his hometown Tuesday night all the way from Centennial, Colorado. He was also set up in front of Union Station, where a rally will be held at 1:45 p.m.

“We had to make the trip down here to celebrate — it’s a mandatory celebration if your town makes it to the Super Bowl,” Carrera said.

Laura Ziegler

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At the other end of the parade route, Trevor Kahler and his father Randy — who drove all the way from Branson — arrived at the City Market around 5:30 a.m.

Kahler said he learned a lesson from the last time he attended a Super Bowl parade and packed a chair this time.

He and his dad are excited to see their favorite Chiefs players.

“We wanted to make sure we were at the barricade, hopefully see Travis Kelce. That’s probably who I am most excited to see,” Kahler said.

Randy is looking forward to seeing MVP Patrick Mahomes.

A few blocks away, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas was greeting people lined up near 16th and Grand. Lucas said he didn’t really sleep last night — he was too excited.

“This is real, like, Christmas-morning-I’m-waiting-to-see-what-I-will-get sort of energy,” Lucas said. “I love seeing people on the parade route this early and just… joy. Right? Like, there are a lot of questions about why we have sports and why we invest in them. But there is something joyous about seeing people coming together from all around Missouri and Kansas.”

It was a pretty early start for KCUR reporters Peggy Lowe, Zach Perez, Celisa Calacal, Carlos Moreno, Laura Ziegler and Chris Fortune. But can't beat that view!

Good morning from the parade route!

Kansas City weather doesn't always cooperate, but temperatures today are ideal for a parade — hovering in the mid-40s with light wind. Things will cool down later, though — a winter weather advisory takes effect tonight at 9 p.m., with snow likely overnight.

But even a chill in the air did not deter the hundreds of fans already lined up in front of Union Station by 4 a.m. Jared Hardwick and friends camped out overnight to get prime seats for the rally.

Laura Ziegler

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Carlos Moreno

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A whole lot!

Even though the celebration will be free to attend, it may cost at least $2.25 million to put on, according to estimates presented at a Kansas City Council meeting earlier this month.

Kansas City, Missouri, allocated $750,000 for the event and Mayor Quinton Lucas guessed that overtime costs for police and fire fighters would add up to at least $1 million. Jackson County has chipped in an additional $50,000, although the city has asked for more, CityScene reports. Meanwhile the Kansas City Sports Commission expects more than $1 million in private sponsorships.

In other cities, the winning team itself picks up a big part of the tab for the Super Bowl parade — but so far, that's not happening not here.

"That's not the Kansas City story thus far," Lucas told KCUR's Up To Date on Tuesday, "It's always something I think that we'd be happy to discuss further with the Chiefs."

"We would always appreciate a little help."

You'll see it at the victory rally this afternoon at Union Station, but the Vince Lombardi trophy is already back in Kansas City.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid had the honor of walking the trophy into KCI on Monday.

Chris Fortune

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KCUR 89.3

Don't worry though: Double-MVP Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the team already had their chance to party with the trophy on Sunday night.

Carlos Moreno

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KCUR 89.3

Please don't try to look for parking this morning. And ride shares like Uber and Lyft will likely be expensive, if you can manage to find one.

Instead, your best shots for getting in and out of the parade area are by walking, biking or by bus — which is free all day!

Also a heads up: Cell phone reception may be extra spotty because of how many people there are expected to be. So please plan ahead, bring a buddy if you can, and make plans in case you get separated.

There are a few designated places on the map for if you get separated from a child (or an easily lost friend) — UMB Bank, the T-Mobile Center Concourse, and Lunchland at Crown Center, among others.

Some normal bus routes will be altered or stopped altogether (and the Streetcar is suspending operations for the parade duration) but the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is offering shuttles to and from five park-and-ride locations:

• Worlds of Fun
• HyVee Arena / West Bottoms  
• Swope Park/Kansas City Zoo 
• Oak Park Mall
• 47th and State Metrocenter 

These shuttles will run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, and then after the parade they'll bring everyone back to where they need to be.

And if you're thinking about renting a bike, here is what RideKC recommends.

If you want to see the parade at its start, head to City Market where you'll find the beginning of the procession.

At noon, the parade will head down Grand Boulevard through downtown, Power & Light and the Crossroads, and then turn right on Pershing Road to finish in front of Union Station and the north lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

So yeah, traffic is going to be a bit of a nightmare. Kansas City already began closing roads downtown yesterday, and a bunch of bus routes have been canceled or redirected.

Here's what streets will be affected:

• Grand Boulevard from Berkley Park to Pershing Road (closed Tuesday).
• All east-west streets between Walnut and McGee from Berkley Park to Pershing Road. (Closed Tuesday, but some vehicle crossings will remain open until Wednesday 9 a.m. )
• Main Street from 20th Street to Pershing Road will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians.   
• Main Street from Pershing Road to 31st Street will be closed to vehicles, but open to pedestrians.   
• Kessler Road from Pershing to the west side of the National WWI Museum and Memorial.   

Find the full map here — which also includes the locations of medical help, accessible viewing, child reunification spots, and most importantly, restrooms.

Good morning, Chiefs Kingdom! It's looking like a pretty great day for a parade, wouldn't you say? And a great day to celebrate the champions of Super Bowl LVII.

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home for the second time in four years, after their thrilling, down-to-the-last-second win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

KCUR will be bringing you live coverage and reporting from today's Super Bowl victory parade, which will run right through the heart of the city. The parade begins at 12 p.m. over by the River Market, marches down Grand Boulevard and ends up in front of Union Station for a rally around 1:45 p.m.

It'll be a huge crowd for sure: Mayor Quinton Lucas told KCUR's Up To Date that he would "guesstimate" at least 750,000 people will be attending if the weather holds up.

Last time the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, back in 2020, the celebration looked a little something like this:

Charlie Riedel/AP

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AP

We'll have reporters on the ground throughout the route, photographers stationed low and high, and even a live 9 a.m. broadcast of KCUR's Up To Date from the middle of the parade path. You can tune into that at 89.3 FM or stream online, or you can follow along with us here and on Twitter.

Go Chiefs!