KCTV in Kansas City — Fans of the Chiefs are in competition as well as the team itself. Ahead of the Super Bowl, seniors at the Brookdale Senior Center in Overland Park are putting their San Francisco counterparts to the test in a friendly competition.
Seniors at Brookdale chanted, “You’ve got to fight for your right to party!” on Thursday afternoon.
The sense of camaraderie at Brookdale is palpable. It begins with the sea of red and yellow that welcomes you as soon as you enter and continues with the enduring tales of Chiefs supporters.
More than 300 elders live at the Overland Park institution, which has locations across the nation. For the citizens of San Francisco, the center presented a dilemma. The losing city is required to send the winners a gift basket and make a Facebook video congratulating them.
Executive director Jessica Arenholz stated, “We go really big, but it’s so important for our residents just the friendships, the companionships, and all coming together as a community to cheer on their love for the Chiefs.”
The center’s senior citizens have a generational passion for the team.
Senior Barbara Reese declared, “They came here from Dallas, and I was one of the first people to go to a pro football game in Kansas City, so I’m a Chiefs fan from way back.”
These Chiefs supporters, some of whom own season tickets, have been echoing the team’s slogan for decades, from Patrick Mahomes to Len Dawson.
“On our block resided Len Dawson. We’ve known the Chiefs since we lived on Candy Cane Lane in the 1960s,” senior Darrell Werner said.
Wearing red and yellow has always been in style, even though other trends might go out of style.
Senior Doug Dimmel stated, “It represents that I’ve inherited a love for the team.”
With pride, Dimmel dons his father’s crimson coat. His father Charles, who was a member of the initial committee that assisted in moving the club from Texas to Kansas City, left him the fortune.
“To get Lamar to bring the team here, this group of men and community leaders had to sell 200 seasoned tickets apiece,” said Dimmel.
He’s talking about Lamar Hunt, the former CEO and owner of the Chiefs. His family has owned season tickets from the first ever game.
The media doesn’t appear to believe they will prevail. This clothing makes me think of the long line of people who have supported them,” he remarked.
Next Friday, seniors will enjoy one more rally featuring live music and teams, as a final-ditch effort before the Super Bowl.
