How much does it cost to go to a Chiefs playoff game? Fans share their expenses
Steve Pulis and his son Colin got to feel the electricity in Arrowhead Stadium when Patrick Mahomes fell and threw a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.
“It is going to be one of those iconic plays that’s on his highlight reel forever, and we were there,” Steve said.
But getting to see Chiefs plays in person comes at a price.
With tickets starting at $135 before fees and $25 concession items, the cost of a trip to Arrowhead Stadium can add up. And on a freezing day like Saturday, with a high of 34 degrees and a low of 16, fans had to factor in protecting themselves from the cold.
Two Chiefs fans shared how much they spent to attend the AFC Divisional game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 18.
A freezing double feature
Steve and Colin Pulis, a father-son duo from Springfield already had tickets to see the KU men’s basketball game in Lawrence on Saturday, and decided to tack on a Chiefs game afterwards.
After the Jayhawks won, Steve and Colin booked it to Arrowhead Stadium and got to their seats after the first drive. The pair were bundled up in their hunting gear — battery warmed socks and jackets, long rubber boots, two hats, a balaclava for Steve and a newly-purchased KU blanket for Colin.
Steve said he had “a blast,” but even a halftime hot apple cider in a souvenir cup ($16 a pop) couldn’t keep out the cold.
“We made it through the first half OK. By the third quarter, we were getting cold,” said Steve.
“We were pretty cold by the end.”
But Steve wasn’t scared away — he already bought tickets to take his other son to the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills.
Chiefs tickets = $420.25 for two tickets in the upper level by the 25-yard line
Travel to Kansas City = $80 for gas from Springfield to Kansas City
Travel food = $83.74 for barbecue at Burnt End in De Soto before the KU game
Parking at Arrowhead = $60
Cold weather clothing = $43.71 for a blanket to protect Colin’s face
Arrowhead concessions = $32.12 for two hot apple ciders in souvenir cups
Total = $719.82 for two people
Seeing the season through
Since 1967, Butch Kueser’s family has been Chiefs season ticket holders, so when they learned the team would be going to the AFC Divisional Round, Kueser thought, “We just can’t not go.”
The Manhattan, Kansas man gathered up his gameday crew: his nephew, son-in-law, grandson and his grandson’s friend. Four of the seats were Kueser’s own season tickets, and then they purchased the fifth from the season ticket holders next to them.
The group set up their tailgate, complete with a firepit, cornhole game and plenty of beer. Kueser did not pay for the most popular item at Saturday’s tailgate: a Jack Stack barbecue platter contributed by a friend.
Even though Kueser said he could sell AFC Championship tickets for the price of next year’s tickets, he won’t part with them.
“The way we look at it, we would do the whole season with the Chiefs, and you’re not gonna just bail out on them at the very end. We want to see them win it. We want to see that confetti fly,” Kueser said.
Chiefs tickets = $1,000 for five tickets in the upper level front row by the 10-yard line
Travel to Kansas City = $40 for gas from Manhattan to Kansas City
Parking at Arrowhead = $70
Cold weather clothing = $50 for electric socks
Tailgate supplies = $120 for a full tailgate spread with beer, deer meat sausage, barbecue and a bottle of Dr. McGillicuddy’s mentholmint schnapps (a good luck charm)
Arrowhead concessions = $100 for beer and popcorn, their favorite Arrowhead snacks
Total = $1,380 for five people
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 10:39 AM.
