NEW DELHI: Downtown Kansas City is awash in a sea of red as Chiefs fans converge to celebrate their team's remarkable third Super Bowl title in the last five seasons with a victory parade. The festivities follow the Chiefs' thrilling come-from-behind victory over the
San Francisco 49ers
in a 25-22 overtime triumph.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed his excitement on social media, stating, “It never gets old,” ahead of Wednesday's parade that marks another remarkable achievement for the Chiefs.
A focal point of anticipation for many fans is whether pop sensation
Taylor Swift
will join her boyfriend,
Travis Kelce
, for the parade and victory speeches. While Swift has not provided any comments, logistical challenges arise as she is scheduled to be in Melbourne, Australia, 17 hours ahead of Kansas City, for the first leg of her Eras Tour by 6 p.m. Friday. The flight itself spans approximately 17 hours.
Despite this tight schedule, the mere possibility of Swift's appearance, coupled with unseasonably warm temperatures ranging in the 60s Fahrenheit (15-20 Celsius), is anticipated to draw an enormous crowd. City officials estimate attendance could surpass 1 million people.
Both the city and the Chiefs have contributed around $1 million each to organize this celebratory event honoring key figures like Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs' successful title defense is a rare feat, reminiscent of
Tom Brady
and the New England Patriots two decades ago.
In anticipation of the grand celebration, many major school districts in the area have canceled classes, and businesses along the parade route are transforming the day into a festive viewing party for their employees. To ensure security, at least 600 Kansas City police officers will be stationed along the 2-mile (3.22-kilometer) parade route, according to Police Chief Stacey Graves.
Kansas City has become accustomed to victory parades in recent years. Five seasons ago, the Chiefs secured their first Super Bowl championship in 50 years by defeating the 49ers. In 2015, the Kansas City Royals claimed the World Series title, ending a 30-year drought for baseball championships in the city. Last year, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 and confidently promised a return for more victories.
(Inputs from agencies)
English (US) ·