Professional sports teams, like any other sports team at any level, have ups and downs. Good seasons, mediocre seasons, and terrible seasons. There are scandals involving players, management, and even fan bases.
Success tends to mask a lot of problems and it also draws people to the team’s brand. People like winners. And even more: people like to be associated with winners.
As the 24/25 NFL season begins, can the Kansas City Chiefs accomplish something never before accomplished in NFL history and attract more fans to the “Kingdom of the Chiefs”?
It seems impossible to improve the Chiefs’ Q rating. Two consecutive Super Bowl winners. The most famous singer in the world dating the leagues was recently named the most popular player. How can you build on that?
Kansas City Chiefs victory parade
Do you know anyone who has jumped on the Chiefs brand in the last 20 months? The answer is almost certainly yes. Even if you’re in the area near Arrowhead, awareness of the team’s winning streak has increased among casual fans. Outside of the geographic “kingdom,” the Chiefs have undoubtedly experienced a national boost in popularity.
How many of these Kansas City converts were fans of other NFL teams before the last few seasons?
Is it okay to leave your team to jump on the bandwagon?
People get weird when it comes to this question. There are a number of conditions and stipulations for this to happen. Fans will allow a secondary team to be a fan in some cases. You continue to support your primary team, but at the same time cheer for Team B unless they’re playing your primary team. Your primary team might move (yes, St. Louis. I know… twice). You can’t bring yourself to cheer for your team after they literally split up with you and move to another city/region. You move to a new area and take over said regional team, even though your primary team is still playing in the area you moved from.
Then there is the courageous step.
Their team is mired in stagnant mediocrity. It’s losing consistently despite showing signs that the potential for growth is imminent. Think of the Cleveland Browns and, more recently, the Chicago Bears. There are former Bears fans in the area who have taken off their Urlacher jerseys to don a Mahomes jersey.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Minnesota Vikings
The problem is that the Bears have a level of hype around them that hasn’t been there in a long time. Even if former Chicago fans don’t want to hear about it, there are positives to see at the Midway this preseason. Keep an eye on Soldier Field this fall. Even without winning the division or reaching the NFC Championship Game, there is still potential for the Bears.
In the “Kingdom of the Chiefs,” you can show your long-standing devotion by wearing a jersey of a player from an earlier era of Chiefs history. Derrick Thomas, Len Dawson, Jamaal Charles and Tony Gonzalez are a no-brainer. Want to prove your credibility as a Chiefs fan? Don’t get a jersey with the number 87 and “SWIFT” on the back… instead, show off Deron Cherry, Kimble Anders, Tony Richardson or Will Shields. The names of the guys who toiled for the fans while the team never delivered on its promises.
Welcome to the 2024 NFL season. Welcome to the Kingdom of the Chiefs (keep your eye on the Bears).
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Gallery photo credit: Katrina Sirotta
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