Chiefs to pay tribute before first game to Lisa Lopez-Galvan, victim of rally shooting
Before the 2024 NFL Kickoff game, the Kansas City Chiefs will honor the life of the Johnson County mother of two and beloved disc jockey in Kansas City who died in the shooting at the Super Bowl victory rally Feb. 14.
The family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, including her husband Mike, her daughter Adriana, her brother and in-laws, will be on the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5. Mike says the Chiefs have been in contact with his sister in-law, Carmen Lopez, since last week to coordinate plans.
Galvan said the team is inviting the family onto the field before the game kicks off to pay tribute. Other than a moment of silence, he doesn’t know what all the Chiefs have in store to honor his wife’s life. He imagines it’ll be similar to what the Royals did on Opening Day in March and Sporting KC did in July by showing her picture on the screen.
A Chiefs spokesman confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the team had been working with Lopez-Galvan’s family on the tribute.
“The moment will also recognize all who were impacted, and each courageous person who ran toward danger, that day,” the spokesman said in a statement.
The family will be wearing jerseys of Lopez-Galvan’s favorite player, Harrison Butker, whose jersey she was wearing at the parade. Butker later sent the family a jersey that she was buried in. Galvan also said Butker helped with the funeral arrangements.
“It’s a bittersweet thing,” Galvan said. “My wife was a big Chiefs fan. It’s going to be a very emotional thing for our family, but she loved her Chiefs and would love for us to be there.”
He said his family appreciates all the support from the city and keeping his wife’s memory alive, but they hope that they’ll continue to bring attention to gun violence in the area. The support from everyone makes it easier on Galvan as he and his family adjust to a life without her, Galvan said.
If you’re headed to Thursday’s game, here are some key times to know:
- 2:30 p.m.: Parking gates open
- 5 p.m.: All gates open at Arrowhead Stadium
- 6:20 p.m.: Start of team warm-ups
- 6:55 p.m.: “Lift Every Voice” performance
- 7:09 p.m.: Championship banner ceremony
- 7:12 p.m.: Chiefs introduced
- 7:14 p.m.: Ravens introduced
- 7:16 p.m.: Coin toss
- 7:18 p.m.: National anthem performance
- 7:22 p.m.: Kickoff
The Star’s Pete Grathoff contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 4:49 PM.
