Era el año 1984. Kansas City y el estadio Arrowhead eran el centro del mundo del entretenimiento. Mary Hart y John Tesh presentaron una edición en vivo de Entertainment Tonight desde el estacionamiento. Las entradas para el evento alcanzaron la cifra récord de $30 cada una. El dirigible de Goodyear estaba sobre el estadio cuando el Jacksons Victory Tour lanzó su gira mundial aquí mismo, en mi ciudad natal.
While I was never the biggest Michael Jackson fan, I do recall being in the audience to see the concert and being amazed at the light show, the dancing and the singing performances — even from Tito. Michael magically moonwalked across the stage and, to me, it seemed like nothing could eclipse this moment for Kansas City.
Forty years later, KC has hosted Presidents, three World Series, NFL Drafts, major conventions and hundreds of big concerts at Arrowhead, Kauffman, and other venues across town. The Rolling Stones. Billy Joel. Michael’s little sister Janet, they’ve all played in KC recently.
But KC hasn’t seen anything like Taylor Swift — and it might never again. Swift played to a capacity Arrowhead crowd over the summer and the city was buzzing for weeks before and after the concert. And then, THEN, she goes and starts dating the Chiefs Travis Kelce in only the most public way during last Sunday’s game. Even those living in caves had to have heard about this by now.
A rock star and an athlete at the top of his game is newsworthy, but the world’s biggest rock star and a world champion athlete? The results are seismic. And all this in Kansas City? What on earth do you think they did after the game? Maybe run by QuikTrip for some roller food? Stop by Mahomes’ Whataburger off Barry Road? Maybe hit up Town Topic for a bowl of late night chili?
Tal vez Trav condujo a TayTay hasta Platte City para recorrer las históricas oficinas de Platte County Landmark, solo para descubrir que Ivan Foley había vendido el edificio unas semanas antes. Hablando de mala sangre.
Still, I’m left with some civic pride even though I know neither Travis or Taylor are lifelong Kansas Citians and only find themselves as star-crossed lovers in a love story that happens to be set in Kansas City. But just as I did then 40 years ago as I did this past weekend, I am thrilled that Kansas City is the center of attention, and I hope that Taylor asked for extra cheesy corn with her burnt ends.
(Obtenga más información sobre Travis y Taylor y otras cosas importantes de Chris Kamler en X, la aplicación anteriormente conocida como Twitter, donde lo encontrará como @TheFakeNed)