Live coverage: 1 dead, multiple people injured in shooting at Kansas City Chiefs parade
A joyous and crowded Chiefs victory parade ended quickly and chaotically after a shooting near Union Station.
- One person is dead.
- Three people are in custody.
- Police report at least 22 other gunshot victims.
- 9 of the gunshot victims are children, but they are expected to make full recoveries
- Hospitals also treated other patients with non-gunshot injuries.
- KCUR's newsroom is safe and accounted for.
- Get more information about the parade route and planning here.
- You can watch coverage live on KSHB-41 and online.
This live blog is no longer being updated. Find more of KCUR's coverage on our website.
Kansas City vigil will honor Lisa Lopez-Galvan
Community members, KC 360 and KC Common Good are hosting a vigil in honor of Lisa Lopez-Galvan — the mother of two and local radio DJ — killed in yesterday's shooting.
The event is at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Skywalk Memorial Park, 2401 Gillham Road. The vigil is open to the public “to come together and pray for those who are still fighting for their lives, lost a life and impacted by yesterday’s tragic events."
Read the full story, courtesy of the Johnson County Post.
Schools try to help students cope with trauma from shooting
Schools around the Kansas City area are preparing to address the mental and emotional toll on students of the deadly shooting Wednesday at the downtown celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win.
Many area school districts canceled classes on Wednesday so that students and families could attend the parade and rally outside of Union Station,
Nine of the 22 people injured by gunfire were children. Read the full story here.
Shooting total at 23 victims, with 3 patients in critical condition
The Kansas City Police Department says there were 23 total victims from the Valentine’s Day shooting at Union Station. Three Kansas City hospitals took in a total of 29 patients with gunshot wounds and injuries from fleeing the scene, and some have since been released.
KCPD: Chiefs parade shooting stemmed from dispute, not terrorism
Kansas City Police say that no chages have been filed yet ragainst any of the three detained suspects, two of whom are juveniles. The only confirmed death so far in Wednesday's shooting at Union Station is 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio DJ.
KCPD has now learned of 23 total victims from the shooting. Graves said the victims range in age from 8 to 47 years old. Half of the victims are under the age of 16.
The scene this morning at Union Station
As of Thursday morning, the tally from the shooting remains at one death — Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio DJ and mother of two — and 21 other injured.
Numerous other people were injured in the rush out from Union Station.
You can find more photos of the chaos from the day here.
Union Station closed today
Union Station says it will remain closed today, Feb. 15, and will reopen tomorrow morning. Further information for P.O. Box holders and Amtrak passengers can be found below.
Out of respect for the victims, families and an ongoing investigation in the surrounding area, Union Station will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, February 15, with plans to reopen Friday morning, February 16.
— Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) February 15, 2024
Post Office Box holders will have access only into the P.O. Box area via… pic.twitter.com/BnvwdCkBir
Prosecutor's Office offering free counseling
The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office has arranged free counseling services for community members. Counselors and social workers will be at United Church of Christ, in Brookside from 11a.m. – 2 p.m. this afternoon, Feb. 15.
President Biden releases statement calling for gun reforms
President Joe Biden released a statement this evening with a pointed message about today's deadly shooting in Kansas City.
"The Super Bowl is the most unifying event in America. Nothing brings more of us together. And the celebration of a Super Bowl win is a moment that brings a joy that can’t be matched to the winning team and their supporters. For this joy to be turned to tragedy today in Kansas City cuts deep in the American soul.
"Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting. What are we waiting for? What else do we need to see? How many more families need to be torn apart?"
Biden's statement called for a ban on assault weapons, limits on high-capacity magazines, strengthening background checks, and other restrictions.
Biden noted that there have been more mass shootings so far in 2024 than days in the year — 49, according to CNN. (The news organization defines a "mass shooting" as one that injures or kills four or more people, not including the shooter.)
"We have to decide who we are as a country. For me, we’re a country where people should have the right to go to school, to go to church, to walk the street — and to attend a Super Bowl celebration — without fear of losing your life to gun violence.
Jill and I pray for those killed and injured today in Kansas City, and for our country to find the resolve to end this senseless epidemic of gun violence tearing us at the seams."
NPR reports that Biden's 2024 reelection campaign made gun violence prevention one of its central issues, in an effort to drive enthusiasm among young voters.
KCUR releases emergency episode of Kansas City Today podcast
KCUR will not release our usual episode of the daily news podcast Kansas City Today on Thursday.
Instead, reporters and producers put together a special episode with the latest updates on the shooting. The podcast was recorded Wednesday evening, so things may have changed by the time you listen.
UPDATE: Radio DJ and Johnson County mom identified as shooting victim
The death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio DJ and mother of two, was confirmed Wednesday evening on Facebook by the community radio station KKFI 90.1, where Lopez hosted the weekly program Taste of Tejano.
The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that Lopez-Galvan, who lived in Shawnee, Kansas, died at a hospital during surgery to treat a gunshot wound to her abdomen.
According to KKFI’s website, Lopez-Galvan began her hosting duties in 2022, and she spent more than 15 years playing music for English- and Spanish-speaking crowds.
“For Lisa music is life and a source of happiness,” her biography says.
Children's Mercy: Victims expected to make full recoveries
Stephanie Meyer, senior vice president of nursing at Children's Mercy, says the hospital has treated 12 patients, 11 of whom are children.
Nine of of the children experienced gunshot injuries, while the others were "incidental" injuries.
The ages of the pediatric patients were between 6-15.
Meyer said all of the children are expected to make full recoveries. None of the patients are in critical condition.
A note about coverage
KCUR's newsroom will continue to report on the shooting and the aftermath.
We are being careful to verify information and post only what we can confirm. This liveblog may be slower with updates from here on out.
For now, you can find our standalone story on the shooting below. It will also be updated as we learn more.
The latest from University Health
Mark Steele, chief clinical officer of University Health, says the hospital implemented its mass shooting protocols and treated eight gunshot victims.
Six of those victims are now stable, and two remain in critical condition.
Shields said that they did not have any victims die at University Health.
UPDATE: 22 shooting victims, 3 people detained
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves says the total of gunshot victims has risen to 22 people — including one fatality.
Police have confirmed just one deceased victim, and KCPD is working on identifying them and notifying their family.
Three people have been detained in connection with the shooting — that's one more than police reported before.
Kansas City Fire Department Chief Ross Grundyson say that eight of the patients had "immediately life threatening" injuries, seven had "life threatening" injuries, and six had minor injuries.
Mayor Quinton Lucas says the situation will continue to change throughout the night. "Today was tragic for everyone who was part of it," Lucas said.
"What you saw happen is why people talk about guns a lot," Lucas added.
More info from the most recent press conference:
- Police are not providing the age range of victims.
- Police have not confirmed a second death.
- No motive has been provided yet.
- Police are investigating if one of the suspects they have in custody is the person seen in viral videos of rally attendees tackling a person outside Union Station.
Statement from the Chiefs
The Chiefs have released a statement from the organization.
"We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today's parade and rally," it reads. "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City."
The Chiefs say they are communicating with the mayor's office and the KCPD.
"At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for. We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist."
UPDATE: At least 18 shooting victims
KCUR has so far confirmed 18 gunshot victims, not including the deceased victim.
- Children's Mercy: 12 patients from the rally (11 are children. 9 have gunshot wounds)
- Saints Luke's: 4 patients from the rally (1 with a gunshot injury in critical condition. 3 walk-in patients with non-threatening, non-gunshot injuries)
- University Health: 12 patients from the rally (8 gunshot victims, 2 of whom are in critical condition. 4 non-gunshot injuries)
Another KCPD press conference is coming up
Kansas City Police say they will share "updated information" at a 5 p.m. press conference, also at police headquarters downtown.
There are several things we do not know yet:
- The exact number and status of the gunshot victims, other than the one deceased victim
- How many, if any, of the victims are children
- The identities of the two armed suspects who were arrested
- The motives or the reason behind the shooting
'This is not Kansas City'
It might be useful to offer some context about gun violence in Kansas City, Missouri.
In 2023, KCMO recorded 185 homicides — the most in its history. That surpassed the previous record set just a few years ago, in 2020.
Although the rest of the U.S. saw a decrease in violent crime after the pandemic, Kansas City has not, KCUR reported in December.
Missouri gun laws are some of the most lenient in the country. And Kansas City, Missouri, is unique in U.S. in that it does not have local control of its police department.
What that means is that, instead of the department being overseen by local elected officials, it's controlled by a state Board of Police Commissioners. Four of the five members on that board are appointed by Missouri's governor — currently a Republican, in contrast to Kansas City's Democratic local government — while the fifth members is the mayor.
The board sets department policy, hires the police chief and controls the budget. Kansas City's state control system has been overwhelmingly criticized by local criminal justice reform groups, who have also filed lawsuits claiming it violates their rights.
Another critic of the police system is Lucas, who in 2022 called it a "backwards colonial system."
BREAKING: 1 victim dead in shooting
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves has provided the first official confirmation that one person died in the shooting.
She says upwards of 10-15 gunshot victims were reported, but she did not have information on their conditions.
Here's what else we learned from the KCPD press conference:
- Graves said officers immediately responded to the area of the shooting west of Union Station, and took two people into custody.
- More than 800 law enforcement officers were on hand during the events.
- "Because of bad actors, this tragedy occurred, even in the presence of uniformed officers," Graves said.
- Graves said the scene is "not active, particularly, in threats."
- Kansas City Chiefs players, families and staff are accounted for and safe, Lucas said.
- Lucas said that the White House offered federal assistance.
- "This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City," Lucas said.
- Lucas said his initial response to the shooting is "anger." He said people should not be afraid of the threat of gun violence during big events like this.
"I am angered by what happened," Graves said. "But I want you to know that the KCMO police department and all the officers that were there today that were serving and protecting, I’m so proud of them that they ran into danger, getting two people into custody, and rendering life saving aid to victims.
"We will recover as a city. My heart goes out to the victim that’s deceased. But your police department stands ready."
KCPD press conference coming up
Kansas City Police say it will hold a news conference at the downtown Police Headquarters at 3:30 p.m.. Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Stacey Graves will be attending.
You should be able to watch live on KSHB.
Reactions from Chiefs players
Kansas City Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the team was on buses returning to Arrowhead Stadium when the shooting happened.
According to the Associated Press, Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting. Here are some reactions from players:
- Drue Tranquill: "Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing."
- Patrick Mahomes: "Praying for Kansas City…"
- Justin Reid: "Praying for everyone in Kansas City at the parade"
The scene at Union Station
Gov. Laura Kelly saysshe was evacuated from Union Station after shots were fired and is "out of harm's way."
Similarly, Gov. Mike Parson sayshe and First Lady Teresa Parson were in attendance but are now "safe and secure."
Shooting victims headed to hospitals
University Health told KCUR that it's currently treating four gunshot victims and another gunshot victim is on the way. Eight other patients have non-gunshot injuries.
Children's Mercy says it is receiving patients, but did not share how many.
KCUR has yet to confirm the status of the victims' injuries.
Saint Luke's confirms it has received one gun shot patient "in critical condition" and a walk-in patient with "non-life threatening injuries."
Read our full story here. It will be updated with more information.
KCPD: Several people shot west of Union Station
Kansas City Police say they have releasedeveryone from inside Union Station.
"At the conclusion of the rally there were shots fired west of Union Station near the garage and several people were struck," the KCPD said in an email. "There have been 2 armed people detained for more investigation."
Police are asking people to exit the area quickly and safely, and avoid the Union Station parking garage. They also request that witnesses go to the southwest corner of Pershing and Main Street.
"Many of you have footage of many officers securing Union Station, they are working to provide for the safety of everyone inside Union station and expedite care of those injured," the department said in an email.
All of KCUR's reporters are safe and accounted for.
KCPD: Shots fired at Union Station
Shots have been fired around Union Station. Please leave the area.
— kcpolice (@kcpolice) February 14, 2024
Several emergency vehicles are making their way down to Union Station.
No information has been released yet about the shooting, including if anybody has been injured or where the shots came from.
"Officers are working to clear Union Station itself," KCPD tweeted. "We will release everyone inside the building once that is complete. We are still trying to determine the number of shooting victims."
Crowds move quickly out of Union Station
KSHB reports that loud noises caused people to run away from the Union Station stage.
Images showed police rushed into the building, some with weapons drawn, and asking people to get down.
KCUR has not confirmed any information about what happened, but we will put that here when we can.
If you're looking to reunite with someone on the parade route, you can find reunification locations here.
Kansas City's racist traditions reemerge
Just like last year, the Chiefs rally comes to a close with two of the team's most offensive and controversial traditions: The "tomahawk chop" and war chant.
Despite years of Native American groups calling on the team to change their name and imagery, the team and fans continue to make the those practices prominent parts of its games and celebrations.
"We still see folks walking up to the to the stadium in full headdresses. We still see people in face paint, they walk by us singing that song and doing 'the chop,'" Kansas City Indian Center executive director Crouser told KCUR's Up To Date in November.
The Not In Our Honor coalition went to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas to protest the team.
As the Associated Press reports, research shows the use of Native American imagery and stereotypes in sports have negative psychological effects on Native youth and encourage non-Native children to discriminate against them.
"When you google Kansas City, that's (the Chiefs) the very first thing that pops up, and then the very next thing that pops up is the appropriation and the stereotypes and the racism associated with the team," Crouser said.
Chris Jones is ready for a 'three-peat'
Defensive tackle Chris Jones is one of the keys to the Chiefs' success — a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
But his contract has been a lingering question for this next season. In 2023, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs that was worth up to $25 million (he'll get a major payout from winning his third Super Bowl).
Details about a longer-term contract extension has yet to be announced, though, and Jones is about to become a free agent.
Speaking at the rally at Union Station, Jones declared that he wasn't going anywhere.
Your Super Bowl champions are here
And they're dancing!
After a very brief remark by Coach Andy Reid, AKA "Big Red," the microphone goes to quarterback Patrick Mahomes — wearing some big shades.
"They all doubted us. I don't want to hear any different," Mahomes told the crowd. "But you know who came through in the end? That's the Kansas City Chiefs."
Mahomes gives shoutouts to his teammates: kicker Harrison Butker, punter Tommy Townsend, and the defensive line.
"A defense can win the Super Bowl and still be underrated," Mahomes said.
And this year, Mahomes declared that the Chiefs are going for a three-peat — which would be an NFL first.
In memory of Norma Hunt
Mitch Holthus payed tribute to Chiefs matriarch Norma Hunt, who died back in June.
Hunt — the wife of late team founder Lamar Hunt — was 85 years old. She was also the only woman who had attended every Super Bowl, ever — so it's bittersweet that she missed her team's fourth win.
The Chiefs jerseys this season included a commemorative patch with "NKH" — Norma Hunt's initials — in gold lettering. It sat on the right side of the jersey, mirroring a patch honoring Lamar Hunt on the left.
"Hold your family a little tighter," said Norma's son, Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, at Wednesday's rally.
A look at the parade crowds
Looking for the exact crowd size at today's Chiefs parade and rally?
Too bad — we'll probably never know for sure. That's because, despite the ambitious estimates by the city, it's notoriously difficult to accurately count crowd sizes that large.
But the Kansas City Police Department did get this videofrom a helicopter looking down at the route, so you can start counting one by one.
Kansas City, you look incredible at the @chiefs parade.
— kcpolice (@kcpolice) February 14, 2024
We are honored to serve you on the ground and overhead pic.twitter.com/9MVMYgKHCa
Chiefs cheerleaders also have day jobs
The Kansas City Chiefs cheerleading squad just got finished performing at Union Station.
One of the things that fans might be surprised to know is that it doesn't pay particularly well to be an NFL cheerleader. On average, they earn only about $150 per game, and just $50-75 for a public appearance, NBC Sports Boston reported in 2022.
In late January, an Instagram Reels posted by the squad showed some members practicing while at their day jobs — including registered nurse, middle school English teacher, civil engineer, law student, marketing account executive, fashion buyer, and violence prevention and education coordinator.
"POV: you thought you made a cute reel but you actually just pointed out that you undervalue your female athletes," one commenter replied. "honestly have so much respect for the cheerleaders. had no idea they all had full time jobs on top of this," another wrote.
The Huffington Post has more on this.
Mitch Holthus takes the stage
Mitch Holthus:
— Vince Lovergine (@Vince_Lovergine) February 14, 2024
"The Chiefs started their own history class, and you're all enrolled."#chiefs pic.twitter.com/IPXYTAfQ4q
Known as the "Voice of the Chiefs," Mitch Holthus says he will kick off the victory celebration at Union Station "the way I ended the game in Las Vegas."
"The Chiefs Kingdom has started its own history class, and you're all enrolled," Holthus says.
Holthus brings Lucas onto the stage, who does a Missouri vs. Kansas roll call. Just from the broadcast, it sounds like Missouri is better-represented.
Willie Gay Jr. in repose
Sleep, by Kehinde Wiley, 2008, by @jbbrisco https://t.co/hrwcOu8O1U pic.twitter.com/0e0rsuH419
— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) February 14, 2024
Al-Hadaf unfurls 'Free Palestine' banner on parade route
The pro-Palestinian community organization Al-Hadaf held up a banner reading "Free Palestine" in front of Union Station.
The group's name means "The Purpose" in Arabic, and it says it's dedicated to the realization of a free Palestine and political and cultural revival of Kansas City's Palestinian community.
Isiah Pacheco grabs the mic
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco now has two Super Bowl rings, and some words for fans:
"For anybody, don't ever stop. You can do whatever you can do to achieve the goal... Focus. Eliminate distractions. Mind, body and soul. You can do it!"
Pacheco runs the same at the parade as he does in a game 😂 pic.twitter.com/CSljpyoz7p
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2024
Tech N9ne performs at Union Station
Tech N9ne, Kansas City's most famous hip-hop star, hyped up the crowd at Union Station before the team gets up on stage.
For years, Tech N9ne's songs "KCMO Anthem" and "Red Kingdom" have become synonymous with the team's success and their fervent fanbase.
We have reached the Tech N9ne portion of today’s events. pic.twitter.com/qf6VMm3U2w
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) February 14, 2024
Some players have arrived at the rally area, but the biggest stars like Mahomes are spending time signing hats, shaking hands and enjoying the crowd.
It pays to get there early and be near the front.
Kansas City: center of the universe
One of the resounding feelings we've heard from Kansas City residents, Chiefs fans and city officials during this Super Bowl run is that this city has ended up at the center of the universe.
In the last year, Kansas City has taken home two NFL championships, back-to-back. It hosted 100,000 visitors for the NFL Draft, welcoming flyers with a brand new airport, and showed off the city over and over again to national audiences.
Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift made a whole lot of people around the world aware of Kansas City (and the Chiefs... and also football) who otherwise wouldn't have — and brought a whole lot of business to the city.
By April, a brand new women's soccer stadium will open on the riverfront for the KC Current, and the Royals hope to build a new ballpark of their own downtown. Next year, the Streetcar should open its expansion several miles south.
In 2026, Kansas City will be welcoming the world for six FIFA World Cup matches — the smallest of the North American host cities. That's a lot happening in just a few years.
Even as Kansas City wrestles with its fair share of problems — from record high homicide rates to a lack of affordable housing — the overwhelming vibe today is one of joy and confidence.
Kansas City has been great. Now the rest of the world can't deny it.
Kids on parade
At the corner of 16th and Grand, these fans knew how to angle for the best view of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2024 Super Bowl parade.
Elsewhere along the route, these young fans showed up for Travis Kelce.
Still other young parade-goers entertained themselves playing the game that brought together the whole city for the occasion.
More of our favorite fan outfits
Diana Reyes, at Afterword Tavern and Shelves on 18th and Grand, was sporting a custom jacket made by her husband.
"He made it for me while I was at work," Reyes said. "I'm not crafty but he can do everything."
Dyllian Thomas from Paolo, Kansas, has been up since 5 a.m. and at the parade since 8. He's sporting a Derrick Thomas jersey, which is also his brother's name, and classic Chiefs overalls.
"The overalls make the damn fit!!" he said.
Daniel Cramer, a 31-year-old truck driver, drove two hours from Hermann, Missouri, and has been at Union Station since 3 a.m. It's his second celebration in a row.
Lombardi trophy spotted
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt is the one chaperoning the Vince Lombardi trophy, joined by his wife, Tavia.
They're on a bus next to Coach Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy.
Meanwhile, some Chiefs players are starting to get off the bus (and take off their shirts) and personally greet fans on the sidelines.
Chiefs procession has reached the starting line
It's showtime!
A police procession leads off the line of buses and vehicles with Chiefs players, staff, friends and families.
Confetti cannons began going off as the Rumble, the Chiefs' drumline, passed by.
One float has members of Kansas City Council aboard, with Mayor Quinton Lucas waving to audience members and handing out high-fives.
Seen on the Chiefs bus
Chiefs players are loading into their custom-outfitted buses right now, and it's packed with friends and family with just about 10 minutes to go before the parade begins.
One particular bus has Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany Mahomes, and Travis Kelce (already brandishing a bottle of tequila, and wearing the championship belt) and his mom Donna Kelce (with a custom "Mama Kelce" jacket).
Not on board? Taylor Swift.
Down by the parade route, it's a restless crowd. KCUR's Noah Taborda reports that attendees are packed in like sardines with almost no room to walk up or down Grand. What was once walkway is now standing room only.
Several KCUR reporters, in fact, found themselves stuck on one side of the street with no way to cross Grand anymore.
At Union Station, it's a sea of red, "We Are The Champions" blaring in the background.
And your weather update: 54 degrees at the downtown Kansas City airport.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is here
Teresa and I are ready to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS with a @Chiefs VICTORY PARADE!
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) February 14, 2024
Now, the question is to update the ink or not… pic.twitter.com/x4LeEnDxEr
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is also making her way down the parade route, on the back of a pickup truck.
How to watch the Chiefs parade from home
If you aren't in Kansas City, or didn't want to scope out a spot in line early this morning, you can still tune into the Chiefs parade and rally.
Kansas City residents can watch the live TV broadcast on KSHB-41. You can also check out their livestream below.
Nuns on parade
Two mainstays of Chiefs games and celebrations are Kathleen Henderson (right) and Linda Hennessey (left), who handed out custom prayer cards on the parade route while dressed as nuns:
"Our Quarterback, who art in Arrowhead
Mahomes be thy name.
Thy Chiefs Kingdom come, with decibels strong,
In the loudest stadium in the world,
and on the field today.
Give us this day and our touchdowns galore,
And forgive us our penalties, but not those
Who call them against us.
And lead us not into overtime, but deliver us a victory today.
Amen."
Their prayer cards are signed "The KC Chiefs Nuns of the Eternal Order of the Arrowhead End Zone." In case you were wondering if the team was #blessed.
Kansas City's mayor on Taylor Swift
Mayor Quinton Lucas joined KCUR's Up To Date for a live broadcast from RecordBar, right on the parade route.
Lucas addressed right off the top the biggest question of the day — Taylor Swift. While Lucas said he welcomed Swift to the parade, and that all the logistics were in place, he predicted that she likely would not be attending.
That would be a disappointment for a number of people here — KCUR community engagement producer Zach Perez said he met several attendees who were at the parade specifically to see Swift. Hopefully they'll find other things worthwhile to see.
KCUR's Steve Kraske asked KCPD Captain. Jake Becchina what he predicted the crowd size was going to be today — and if it would reach a million people like last year.
"I would bet it's going to get close," said Becchina, who added that crowds already looked larger than the 2023 parade. He said over 30 law enforcement agencies were assisting with security and operations.
Kraske also spoke to Lucas about the proposed Kansas City Royals stadium, which would be located right across the street from RecordBar in the Crossroads.
The ballpark and entertainment district would, however, require the demolition of a number of small businesses and is already seeing a concerted opposition.
You can hear more of that interview on Up To Date's podcast later today.
Hot dog! Feeding the hungry Chiefs fans
Cortez Garlington brought his grill and 360 hot dogs to hand out to parade-goers. By 9 a.m., he said he’d sold about four and given away about 30.
He’s used to feeding the community – he cooks for Meals on Wheels, and has been for about 15 years, he said. He also showed up to last year’s parade with the same number of hot dogs.
He said he’s not as impressed with this year’s crowd, though it’s still early.
“Last year was 10 times better, it was over-capacitated,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going on this year, but last year was wild.”
Some of our favorite outfits so far
Standard outfit fare for any Chiefs game or watch party include the jersey of your favorite Chiefs player, a Kansas City shirt or hat, and anything that's red or yellow.
At Wednesday's parade, some fans were dressed to the nines in their best and brightest gear.
Sarah Hadley (left) was at her second championship parade, while it's the first for Bailey Aubuchon (right).
Aubuchon was dressed in red tights, a red skirt and a red Chiefs bomber jacket she got from her mom. Completing the look was a yellow Chiefs pom pom beanie and a matching red and gold scarf. She said the look was inspired by Taylor Swift.
Hadley was wearing red pants, a red coat and what she says is her lucky red and gold Mahomes jersey.
"I've worn this every single time we've won the Super Bowl so far," she said.
Paige Webb donned a red jumpsuit she said she often wears to warm-weather Chiefs games. The jumpsuit is adorned with several patches celebrating the Chiefs, which Webb says she's added throughout the years.
"It's the start of a dynasty," Webb said of the Chiefs. "I love to see it, love the pride that the whole city has right now. It's just fun to see It's electric."
Michael Romanazzi (above left) took a different approach. The Leawood resident brought his Speed Graphic camera made in 1938 — and it works. He bought it online and has been taking photos with it for a few months.
He plans to take photos of the crowd, individual fans and as many buildings as he can find, then develop them.
KCUR's Up to Date from the parade
KCUR's Up to Date is preparing to broadcast live from in front of Record Bar along the Super Bowl parade route starting at 9 a.m.
You can hear the conversation by clicking the arrow above on our website, or on the NPR App.
Happy birthday, Koi!
Sure, today is the Chiefs parade, and Valentine's Day, and Ash Wednesday.
But it's also Koi Williams' sixth birthday. He came out with his parents Brandon and Ronnie from Platte City. They left home at 6:40 a.m. this morning.
"He's a Valentine baby, so we thought, what better way to celebrate his birthday than to bring him to a parade?" Ronnie told KCUR's Zach Perez. "He was a little disappointed when he found out there wasn't going to be any candy."
But don't worry — Koi will get his birthday party on Saturday.
School's out
Most school districts in the Kansas City metro were closed on Wednesday.
Sharon Washington brought her two granddaughters, Monie Moore and TyTy Battle, to the parade. They arrived near Union Station at 6:30 a.m. with a sign made by Mrs. Washington and her students at Hartman Elementary School.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is holding classes and continuing operations as normal. However, 22nd Street near the Health Sciences campus will be closed, and campus parking will be restricted to UMKC parking pass holders and dental clinic patients.
Odds and ends
Some stray observations from the parade route and rally:
- KCUR's Lawrence Brooks IV reports that the crowd at Union Station is "easily 4000 plus" by this point.
- At multiple spots along Grand, KCUR's Zach Perez and Noah Taborda found fans playing catch from across the street and over the barriers.
- Another popular viewing spot is the parking garage near 13th and Grand.
Where are the bathrooms?
Kansas City Chiefs fans lined up at the Starbucks in Crown Center, which seemed to be serving as a warming center.
Parade-goers who were also looking for restrooms could find them along the parade route according to this map.
Mayor Quinton Lucas works the route
Kansas City's mayor is out on the route around 7th and Grand, stopping to chat with Chiefs fans and take some photos.
One fan, Terry Gilmore, took a picture with Lucas with two prop Lombardi trophies that he made — we recognize Gilmore from last year's parade!
Lucas had some advice for people trying to navigate downtown.
Parade Tip: If you don’t know how to navigate the east side for how to get downtown, today’s the day to learn.
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) February 14, 2024
71, Paseo, Troost, Prospect, and then booking west is my advice. Parking east of route also gets you out faster. Regardless, enjoy!
KCUR reporters are already telling us that the phone signal is getting weaker on the parade route, so be careful out there!
Raising the flag
The best parade strategy?
Wesley Leck, his 15-year-old son Tanner and Wesley's fiance, Jarusha Geringer, all of Gladstone, were attending their fifth big downtown parade, including the 2015 Royals World Series win.
They believe they have the best strategy. They sit at 5th and Grand, where they see the parade start, then they rush back to their car, parked in the River Market, and drive home to watch the rally on TV.
Biggest change from last year? The price for parking doubled, so it was $40 to park this morning along Main Street. Tanner came for Taylor Swift, but his dad Wesley came for Mama Kelce.
"It used to be about Mama Kelce. Now it's about Taylor. So I think they took the spotlight off Mama."
Geringer's best advice to fans? "Have fun. Stay sober. Just enjoy the parade. It's history in the making."
A beautiful day for a parade
Good morning, Kansas City.
Hours before the Kansas City Chiefs' victory parade, thousands of fans had lined up along the parade route and gathered at Union Station to celebrate the 2024 Super Bowl champions.
Temperatures were in the mid-30s before dawn, but the day promised to be unusually warm for mid-February. The National Weather Service predicted sunny skies with a high of 65.
Near the start of the route, at 7th and Grand, prop man Jeff Becker, who has been to all of the Super Bowl parades, decided to bring living room props with him this year. The set-up was more than enough for his group and others to sit comfortably while watching the parade.
People were already lined up along the parade route near the Power & Light District as well.
And several hundred people were camped out in front of Union Station, having staked claims close to the rally stage Tuesday afternoon. The atmosphere grew more festive as fans poured in.
A Valentine's Day nightmare for businesses
One downside to scheduling a parade on this particular day: It's both Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday.
Valentine's in particular is a big one for restaurants, bars and other businesses, especially in some of the commercial districts that the parade will overrun.
Celina Tio, owner of The Belfry near 16th and Grand, says that she'll have to scrap a special menu she’d planned a month in advance. She will close the restaurant for the whole day due all the roads around the building being closed.
“People can’t get to me unless they jump over a fence," Tio said on Tuesday. "We’re also trying to accept deliveries and the trucks are looking at a ‘roads closed’ sign.”
Another Crossroads business, the independent lingerie boutique Birdies, was planning to celebrate its 21st anniversary with a boost in business this Valentines Day.
Founder and co-owner Peregrine Honig says that the shop now expects to lose most of its Valentine’s Day business.
“All we can do is make the best of it,” says Honig. “We’re trying to pretend that we’re just having a big, casual, red Valentine’s Day party, but I doubt anyone [at the parade] is going shopping for lingerie. In the long run, though, if foot traffic is what we get on the parade, that’s fantastic too.”
Is Taylor Swift coming to the parade?
She made it to the Super Bowl, against all odds, so it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. And Kansas City Swifties (and Swelce shippers) certainly would have liked her to.
Swift's next Eras Tour dates aren't on Friday in Australia (17 hours ahead of KC), so theoretically that would leave enough time for her private jet to make the trip — but it's tight.
Last night, one Australia news outlet reported Swift was on her way down under, although her representatives did not confirm.
Speaking to KCUR's Up To Date on Monday, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt expected Swift to help drive more people to the event — if even to get a glimpse of the superstar. He suggested that fans may start lining up along the parade route the night before the celebration.
“That's gonna be a whole second level of security issues that we have to deal with — the crowds and all that sort of thing,” Platt said. “So we are more than ready. We have no concerns with our safety protocols and what we're doing to make sure that the route will be free of any issues.”
Platte hinted that city officials may have already told Swift’s team that her presence at the parade may be too much for the city's security to handle on its own.
“I can't confirm or deny but we might have already told that to her team, just to keep everybody safe and make things a little bit easier for us,” he said.
On Wednesday, Kansas City officials including Mayor Quinton Lucas disputed reports that they dissuaded Swift from attending. "Not true at all," Lucas posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Not this Kansas City official!" Bunch said.
Taylor, feel free to text us if you're going to be at the parade. And next time you're in town, we made you a guide of fun things to do in Kansas City.
Hey, how much is this costing KC?
Both the parade and the rally after will be free to attend, but not for the city to put on.
Kansas City officials recently approved spending $975,000 on the parade, which is higher than the $750,000 the city allocated last year. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas attributed the increase to overtime for city workers, public safety personnel and higher transportation costs.
The Jackson County Legislature also approved spending $75,000 to sponsor the parade. Other costs are being shouldered by private sponsors.
City Manager Brian Platt told KCUR's Up To Date that the Chiefs are pitching in a little over $1 million to support the celebration. (For context: The Chiefs organization was valued in 2023 at $4.3 billion, according to Forbes.)
Last year's estimated cost for the parade was at least $2.25 million.
How to get to and from the Chiefs parade safely
Parking: Bad.
That's the official recommendation of the KCUR newsroom. We got an up-close look during last year's parade at how bad it was to try and drive into downtown Kansas City, and nobody's looking forward to it again this year.
Worse yet will be the likely surge pricing for ride-share apps like Lyft or Uber. And you'll run into the same problems of getting through traffic and road closures.
Here are some better options:
- Take the bus. KCATA is operating shuttles from major locations, running from 7-10:30 a.m. and again from 12-4 p.m. Those locations are 2835 NE Vivion Road, HyVee Arena, Swope Park/Zoo, Oak Park Mall, and the 47th Street State Transit Center.
- Ride a bike or a scooter. Check out RideKCBike and Bird for options, if you don't have your own, but please don't ride on sidewalks.
- Ride the Streetcar. Because the parade won't be interrupting the River Market this time, the Streetcar is operating four cars from 6-10:30 a.m., and again after the parade. It just won't pick up at Union Station, but it's a good and free way to travel along the parade route.
- Walk! If you're able, it's a nice day out, and there's something lovely about a hike with hundreds of thousands of your closest friends. And if you do need to drive or be dropped off from KC's outskirts, you might plan to find a parking lot or garage a bit away from the parade and hoof it the rest of the way.
And a very important warning: Cell phone reception will be bad! There are just so many people crowded into the area, especially when the parade and rally get underway, it becomes near impossible to get internet access. (Especially if you're trying to download an app.)
Plan ahead. Have designated pick-up and drop-off spots. Bring a buddy along. And if you get separated, make sure to rendezvous at one of the designated reunification spots.
What's the parade route and will roads be closed?
The Chiefs parade may draw bigger crowds than last year, but it's traveling a shorter distance.
This year's starting line is 6th Street, just south of the I-70/I-35 split, rather than beginning from River Market. Then it'll take a familiar route south on Grand Boulevard, cutting through downtown, Power & Light and the Crossroads Arts District.
Turn left on Pershing Road and head to Union Station, and you have yourself a parade! Check out the map below for more details, including where to find restrooms, medical help, child reunification spots and more.
Another thing familiar from last year: It'll be a traffic nightmare for large parts of Kansas City.
Trying to drive in? Several streets will be fully shut down — although the city is planning to reopen them as quickly as possible. Good luck finding parking, too.
Want to take public transportation? A lot of bus service will be suspended — although KCATA will be operating park and ride shuttles.
You can find more details on accessing the parade, and how to get around, here.
KCUR is bringing you live coverage from Kansas City's Super Bowl parade
Super Bowl parades are becoming something of a yearly occurrence in Kansas City.
Today will be our third in just five years, after the Kansas City Chiefs became the first NFL team in two decades to repeat championship wins. If last year's last-second victory against the Eagles was thrilling, it could only have been beaten by the Chiefs' overtime comeback against the San Francisco 49ers.
KCUR's newsroom is up bright and early to report from today's victory parade and rally. The parade is set to begin at 11 a.m. and the rally should kick off around 12:45 p.m.
Last year, Kansas City ended up with about 1 million attendees. This year could be even bigger.
KCUR has reporters stationed throughout the parade route and rally, so say hello if you spot them! You can also check out a live broadcast of Up To Date with Steve Kraske at 9 a.m. from RecordBar, right in the middle of the path.
Go Chiefs!
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