NFL Network host from KC shares an insider’s guide for visitors coming for the draft
The 2023 NFL Draft will be held next week at Union Station and the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and Kansas City will welcome an influx of fans.
Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and VisitKC, estimates there were be 300,000 fans at the three-day draft and the economic impact could be as much as $154 million.
Many fans coming to the draft from all parts of the country will get their first introduction to Kansas City. They’ll have plenty of free time while here, so those visitors may be looking for ideas of what to do in KC.
While on the NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” last week, Kansas City native Kimmi Chex was asked for an insider’s guide to our fair city.
Chex suggested people avoid “gentrified” barbecue spots and visit Gates Bar-B-Q (which should be paired with a strawberry soda). She also mentioned the Green Lady Lounge for live music.
“I’m so excited for the NFL world to embrace my city,” Chex said. “But if you need a good time, obviously you’ve got to start with barbecue. However I feel like a lot of people are just going for like the big names, the gentrified barbecue.
“You need down-home, low-key, nothing sexy, nothing fancy about it, you need to get your tray, go to Gates Bar-B-Que, have them scream at you, ‘Hi, may I help you’ the second you open the door. Get your beef on bun on bread, side of beans, a little potato salad and call it a day. So get your OG barbecue. We don’t need like fig jam on a brioche bun.”
Chex was asked what beverage to try with the meal and she said strawberry soda.
“We go country when we do it,” she noted. “It’s good.”
Chex then talked about some of the other great things about Kansas City.
“Next up, you gotta embrace kind of the culture of Kansas City,” she said. “A lot of people are like, ‘Middle of America, what’s there beyond barbecue?’ We have an incredible art scene, incredible jazz and live music as well. There’s a dope little speakeasy around the corner from the draft stage: Green Lady Lounge, get a nice beverage, listen to some jazz, you’re full from some barbecue. It’s a vibe.”
Here is the clip.
A fan gave another suggestion for visitors coming to Kansas City and Chex agreed.
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 8:54 AM.
