Jackson County taxpayers get first crack at possible Chiefs playoff tickets

Vic Borden of Grandview did a double take when he arrived Wednesday at Arrowhead Stadium to buy Kansas City Chiefs playoff tickets for a possible home game.

“I arrived about 8:10 or 8:15 and I thought I was at the wrong location because there weren’t any cars in the parking lot other than the news teams,” Borden said. “No one was in line, so I just kind of formed my own line and I was the first one for about a half hour — the only one for a half hour. I don’t know what to make of that.”

Even when the stadium ticket windows opened at 10 a.m., there were only about two dozen fans waiting to buy seats for the NFL’s American Football Conference wild card game.

“It was startling at first,” said Borden, who used his prime space in line to buy tickets in the upper deck at the 50-yard line.

Jackson County taxpayers got the first crack at the tickets with an ID and a 2014 property tax receipt. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday.

The game will be held Jan. 9 or 10. Despite making the playoffs, the Chiefs aren’t guaranteed a home game. They first must beat the Oakland Raiders at home and the Denver Broncos must lose to the San Diego Chargers. Both teams play at 3:25 p.m. Sunday.

The Chiefs last hosted a playoff game five years ago, when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

Tosha Rose of Raytown said she was at that game. On Wednesday, she was buying tickets to go with her father.

“I’m hoping my luck changes and we get to watch a win this time,” Rose said. “Me and my dad try to hit a Chiefs game every year. We haven’t been able to hit one this year, so we decided, why not a playoff game?”

Tony Bacon of Raytown was looking for four or six tickets to share with friends. But he wasn’t going to ask for any favors.

“I’ll just be happy to be at the game,” Bacon said.

At 6 years old, Addysun Merit of Kansas City was the youngest fan there in the early part of the day.

“She had no choice,” said David Lucas, Addysun’s grandfather. “Grandpa is baby-sitting and said, ‘Let’s go.’ ”

While being at the stadium might have taken a nudge, Addysun is a Chiefs fan and watches the games with her grandfather.

She also had a simple answer when asked why she likes the Chiefs.

“They win games,” she said.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Jackson County taxpayers get first crack at possible Chiefs playoff tickets."