Kansas City Chiefs Tailgating Crew Embarks on Epic Journey to Retrieve Legendary Grill
**Kansas City, MO – October 19, 2024** – The heart and soul of any Kansas City Chiefs game is the electrifying atmosphere created by passionate fans, and nowhere is that spirit more evident than in the tailgating lots surrounding Arrowhead Stadium. Today, a legendary tailgating crew known for their game-day cookouts and Chiefs pride is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime journey: a cross-country road trip to retrieve the fabled “Ultimate Tailgate Grill,” a massive custom-built smoker-grill combo that has become the stuff of legends.
For years, Chiefs fans have reveled in the pre-game tradition of tailgating, where they gather to grill, eat, and celebrate their team. But this isn’t your average cookout. The Chiefs’ tailgating crew, led by longtime fan and grill master Dave “Smokey” Thompson, has become a fixture at every home game, known for their mouth-watering barbecue and massive setup. Their grill, however, went missing two seasons ago due to a mix-up at a storage facility while they were preparing for a playoff run.
After a long search, Smokey and his crew received incredible news: their prized grill had been located at a storage yard in Texas. And now, they are planning a 1,000-mile journey to bring it back in time for the Chiefs’ next home game.
### The Legend of the Ultimate Tailgate Grill
The grill in question isn’t just any ordinary cooker. It’s a custom-made, 1,200-pound smoker designed specifically for large-scale tailgating. Built by a local Kansas City pitmaster who specializes in making top-tier smokers for competition barbecue teams, the Ultimate Tailgate Grill can cook over 100 pounds of meat at once. It features an offset firebox for slow smoking, an attached griddle for burgers and breakfast fare, and an enormous grilling surface.
“We had it custom-built to represent everything Chiefs fans love – barbecue, football, and a good time,” Smokey said, recalling how the grill had become the centerpiece of their tailgating operations. “This thing has fed thousands of fans over the years, and not having it last season was a blow to our tradition.”
The grill had disappeared from a storage facility in Kansas City after the Chiefs’ thrilling Super Bowl win in 2023. The tailgating crew had been in the process of moving their equipment to a new location when the grill was mistakenly sent to a storage lot in Fort Worth, Texas, with no clear paperwork to track it down.
For months, the crew tried everything to recover it, contacting storage facilities, reviewing surveillance footage, and working with the transportation company, but to no avail. “It was like losing a part of the family,” Smokey said. “We were grilling with smaller rigs last season, and it just wasn’t the same.”
### The Road Trip
The Chiefs’ tailgating crew is treating the grill retrieval like an adventure. In true tailgating fashion, the trip will be more than just a mission to bring back the grill – it will be a celebration of Chiefs fandom, barbecue, and camaraderie. Smokey and four members of his core crew – Rick “Big Rick” Johnson, Lisa “Grill Mama” Anderson, Bobby “The Rib King” Wilson, and Terry “Sauce Master” Matthews – are set to leave Kansas City on Friday in a convoy of trucks towing trailers loaded with tailgating supplies.
“We’re going to hit the road with the same energy we bring to Arrowhead on game days,” Big Rick said. “We’ve got a playlist full of Chiefs fight songs, plenty of ribs, and we’re planning to stop along the way at a few barbecue joints to share some of our famous KC barbecue with other fans.”
The crew plans to live-stream portions of the road trip on social media, inviting fellow Chiefs fans to follow along on their journey. They’ll also make stops at a few key landmarks, including the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor in Lamar Hunt’s hometown of Dallas, to pay tribute to the team’s storied history.
### Tailgating’s Role in Chiefs Culture
For many Kansas City Chiefs fans, tailgating is as much a part of the game-day experience as the football itself. Arrowhead Stadium, consistently ranked as one of the loudest and most passionate venues in the NFL, is surrounded by sprawling parking lots that transform into a sea of red and gold every Sunday. Barbecue is at the heart of those pre-game festivities, and the Ultimate Tailgate Grill had become one of the most iconic setups in the lot.
“Arrowhead tailgating is about bringing people together, whether you’ve known them for years or just met them that morning,” said Grill Mama. “With the Ultimate Tailgate Grill back in action, we’re going to bring that sense of community to a whole new level.”
### Bringing It Back Home
Once the crew retrieves the grill from Texas, they’ll return to Kansas City with just enough time to prepare for the next home game. Fans are already buzzing with excitement at the prospect of the legendary grill’s return, and Smokey and his team are planning their biggest tailgate yet.
“We’re coming back bigger and better,” Smokey said. “This grill is a symbol of our Chiefs family, and when it rolls back into Arrowhead, it’s going to feel like coming home.”
The Ultimate Tailgate Grill will be back in action when the Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos next weekend, and fans can expect a pre-game party like never before.
