Wanna hit the road this season? Chargers at Chiefs is the away game to attend

As much as football fans would prefer it, unfortunately every contest of the now 17-game schedule cannot be played at your team’s home stadium this year. As beautiful and as marvelous as SoFi Stadium is, it can only hold so many games in one season ... So if you want to get in some extra Chargers football during the 2021 season, you’ll need to make a trip to one of the team’s eight away matchups.

Unfortunately, traveling for an away game is usually much heavier on the wallet, which means it’s likely you’re only making the trip to one, maybe two, games away from SoFi. Lucky for you I’m here to point you in the right direction.

If you’re going to travel anywhere for a Chargers game this year, I highly suggest making the trip deep into enemy territory to take in a classic divisional rivalry against the Chiefs in Kansas City. With plenty of top-class options for food and entertainment, you’ll be hard-pressed to leave the midwest without a number of phenomenal experiences and a newfound respect for the region.

The Chargers capped off a four-game win streak to end the 2020 campaign with a victory in Arrowhead Stadium against the Chiefs’ backups. While a win is a win, it didn’t have the same flavor as the team’s previous win at Kansas City during that dramatic, last-second victory on Thursday Night Football back in 2018. Luckily, the Chargers are traveling to KC in just under a month for their week three matchup on Sunday, Sept. 26.

For any road game trip, you’re likely to land in town a day or two before the actual game on Sunday. That means you should have some ample time to take in the surroundings and experiences the area has to offer before capping it off with (hopefully) a Chargers victory.

If you don’t want to think for yourself, I’ve got you covered with a pretty stellar itinerary for the next 24-36 hours.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Food/Dining

Nothing gets your day started better than absolutely nailing breakfast. It sets the tone for the day and there’s nothing better than taking in the chilly morning air with a hot drink in your hand and quality food on your table.

The first stop on this short culinary tour is the Denver Biscuit Co. (yes, this is in Kansas City, MO — not Colorado) located just south of downtown near the Plaza Westport area in the revamped historical ice house building. Rated as one of the top breakfast spots in the area by Kansas City Magazine, DBC offers a plethora of biscuit sandwiches for all their patrons and you can enjoy them all alongside their offering of unlimited coffee.

“Try The Franklin,” says writer Nicole Bradley. “Crunchy fried chicken, crispy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese and a nice soaking of sausage gravy between two fluffy biscuits is just what the doctor ordered for a Chiefs (Chargers) pre-game meal.”

Of course, we can’t have you visit Kansas City without getting your hands on some of their famous barbecue. That’d just be wrong.

Enter Harp BBQ, a joint so well known for it’s delectable smoked meats and sides that there’s only one special day of the week that you’ll be able to land some ... and that’s still not guaranteed unless you get there early enough.

Owner Tyler Harp started this passion project that has turned into one of the most-exclusive BBQ experiences in the country. Open only on Saturdays in the parking lot of local Crane Brewing, Harp starts selling at 11 a.m. CT and only goes until he’s sold out. He’s one of the rare few in the region to offer whole hog roasting while also giving out portions of jalapeño cheddar boudin (sausage), sweet tea-glazed pork belly, and chocolate chip cookie banana pudding.

Entertainment

With a full belly and a smile on your face, it’s time to tackle the night life.

Kansas City offers one of the most-unique venues in the midwest for locals to unwind and enjoy some top-tier amenities.

Welcome to the Power and Light District.

Home to over 50 bars, restaurants, and shops, the Kansas City Power and Light District covers eight-square blocks and includes an incredible covered outdoor courtyard where hundreds of lucky patrons can take in sports on the gigantic screen at the front or enjoy one of the venues numerous concerts hosted throughout the year.

One spot I’d highly recommend for you to experience is Howl At The Moon, a dueling piano bar located on the second floor of the courtyard. Centered around a stage filled with musicians riffing off one another, it’s an incredibly energizing and addicting atmosphere that’s tough to escape once you get lulled in by the stunning theatrics and showmanship of the performers.

The Arrowhead Experience

Finally, it’s time to dive in to the actual game day experience you can look forward to at Arrowhead.

The newly dubbed GEHA Field at Arrowhead is one of the most-iconic stadiums in the NFL and also one of the loudest in existence. Don’t believe me? During a 1990 game against John Elway and the visiting Broncos, Elway was unable to communicate a play to his teammates due to the noise and after a brief conversation with a referee, the ref announced that “any further crowd-noise problem” would result in the Chiefs being charged a timeout.

But on top of that, fans at Arrowhead went on to set a Guinness World Record for the loudest stadium at 137.5 dB during a 2013 matchup against the Raiders. They’d later reset the mark with 142.2 dB against the Patriots in 2014.

So one thing is for sure: your experience at Arrowhead Stadium is going to be electric and INCREDIBLY LOUD! You’ll hopefully have some fellow Chargers fans around you but you’re more than likely going to have to get comfortable real quick within a sea of red.

As a midwestern franchise, you can rest assured that the tailgate experience is going to be top-tier, as well. The midwest loves their tailgating and in Kansas City you know the food will be some primo stuff due to the city’s history with barbecue that I discussed above. If you’re lucky enough to find some inviting Chiefs fans, you may be in line for a plate like nothing you’ve had out west.

And don’t worry, as long as you’re okay with not documenting your spectacular time in Kansas City, you won’t have to worry about anyone finding out how much fun you actually had while surrounded by Chiefs fans.