The Kansas City Chiefs have detailed plans to kick off the 2023 NFL season by staging the ‘World’s Largest Tailgate’ at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, while the Denver Broncos will showcase lucha libre wrestling prior to their game against the Green Bay Packers next month.
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs open the 2023 season playing host to the Detroit Lions on September 7. The game will be preceded by a virtual tailgate and concert experience hosted live from the Ford Tailgate District outside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium and streamed to mobile devices, living rooms, restaurants, bars and fan clubs around the globe.
Hosted by the Merrell Twins, Kansas City-born YouTube stars, the show will feature a performance by the American DJ/producer duo Two Friends, as well as segments with Saturday Night Live’s Heidi Gardner, influencer Tabitha Swatosh, and appearances by Donna Kelce (mother of Chiefs star Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce), Chiefs legends and other special guests.
The 90-minute show begins at 4:30pm CT and will include multiple live look-ins at Chiefs bars and fan clubs around the US and throughout the world. “Chiefs Kingdom is wherever you are, and the World’s Largest Tailgate is one way we can unite people in Kansas City, around the country and throughout the world around the fact that NFL football is back in a big way,” said Chiefs president, Mark Donovan.
“We are incredibly proud of our football team, our fans and our tailgating culture, and we’re certain that we’ll be exporting a special look at GEHA Field at Arrowhead and the Chiefs through this unique music and entertainment experience.”
Fans attending the NFL Kickoff Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium can attend the live stage show and concert inside the Ford Tailgate District, although the Chiefs said space will be limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Clark Hunt, CEO of the Chiefs, in July said that a renovation of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium could extend the life of the venue by up to 25 years as the team continues to weigh up the possibility of building a new home.
Hunt has previously expressed a preference to renovate Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs’ home since 1972. The team’s lease deal is set to expire in 2031.
Broncos join forces with CMLL
The Broncos have agreed a partnership with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), marking the first-ever collaboration between an NFL franchise and the Mexico City-based professional promoter.
The partnership comes at a time when CMLL is celebrating its 90th anniversary and will lead to two exhibitions in Denver and Mexico City. The first exhibition of Lucha Olímpica, will feature the Broncos’ Miles the Mascot and “five of his friends” on September 8 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.
Empower Field at Mile High will then host luchadores Místico, Atlantis Jr., Templario and Volador Jr. in a pregame exhibition of lucha libre ahead of the Broncos’ October 22 fixture against the Packers.
The Broncos have unveiled a range of upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High ahead of the new season. The upgrades, which cost $100m (£79.4m/€92.5m) to carry out, include improvements to the stadium’s videoboard, suites and team store.
The Broncos have also unveiled the brand-new Breckenridge Bourbon Club, while new murals are in the process of being fitted on the concourse of the stadium.
