Everything you need to know for the Chiefs-Bills AFC Championship game, airing on KCTV5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s a historic day in NFL history that Kansas City Chiefs fans hope will take their team all the way to the Super Bowl.

As you prepare to watch the game LIVE on KCTV5 News, here’s everything you need to know before, during and after kickoff, starting with:

When is kickoff?

• 1:00 p.m. - Parking Gates Open
• 1:30 p.m. - Ford Tailgate District Opens
• 3:00 p.m. - CommunityAmerica Club Level Gates Open
• 3:30 p.m. - All GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Gates Open
• 4:30 p.m. - Team Warm-Ups Begin
• 5:29 p.m. - Bills Team Introduction
• 5:31 p.m. - Chiefs Team Introduction
• 5:35 p.m. - National Anthem
• 5:38 p.m. - Coin Toss
• 5:40 p.m. - Kickoff

Where to watch:

KCTV5 is airing the game locally, so viewers who normally receive a signal from KCTV5 will be able to watch the game. Viewers outside the range of KCTV5′s local signal can watch the game on CBS or Paramount+, it is not available to stream on kctv5.com.

Spanish language broadcast: KC-based Company Tico Sports provides Spanish broadcasts for Chiefs, Current, and more

The game

Sunday marks the Kansas City Chiefs’ seventh straight AFC Championship appearance. They take on the Buffalo Bills— one of only two teams to take down the Chiefs during the regular season.

While the Chiefs have appeared in four Super Bowls in the last five seasons (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) and won three of them, the Bills have not appeared in one since 1994. They went to four straight Super Bowls from 1991-1994 and lost all four. If the Chiefs win the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl, they will be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row.

Both teams have some heavy hitters playing tonight. According to the Associated Press, “The Bills have James Cook and Amari Cooper on offense, Gregory Rousseau and Von Miller on defense, while the Chiefs will have Travis Kelce, DeAndre Hopkins, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie on the field Sunday night.”

ALSO READ: CBS Sports engineers routing miles of cable throughout GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium

Weather

This morning, the pattern starts off cold and breezy with feels-like temperatures in the teens. Come game time, these winds will decrease, making the wind chill not too far off from the actual temperature. This will allow for a better experience outdoors! Thanks to the cold front coming through, temperatures have dipped and we will only top out at 33 degrees today compared to 42 yesterday.

If you are heading out to Arrowhead, P&L, or a family/friend’s place for the game, temperatures will be around 32 degrees for kick-off. From there, they continually decrease to the mid-20s by the end of the game.

View the full forecast here.

What entertainment and special events are planned?

• Cell Phone Light Show Presented by Hy-Vee: During player introductions and the third quarter, fans present at Arrowhead can a light show synced to the beat of the stadium music. To participate, the Chiefs app on your smartphone, open the app when prompted and tap “ light show” and make sure microphone and camera access are enabled.
• National Anthem: Retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Generald Wilson will perform the national anthem as the Kansas City Fire Department presents the colors. A fleet of B-2 Spirits out of Whiteman Air Force Base will also fly over the stadium.
• Drum honoree: Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt will serve as drum honoree for the playoff game. It’s an AFC Championship tradition for the Chiefs; Hunt has served as the drum honoree in the last five AFC Championship games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
• Halftime performance: Fans present at Sunday’s AFC Championship game will get to enjoy a halftime performance from country music duo Big and Rich. Big Kenny and John Rich are expected to perform a medley of their songs.

What can I bring with me?

As always, Arrowhead’s clear bag policy is in place, restricting fans to carry in only one clear, single-compartment bag no larger than 12″x6″x12″.

Items you may bring include, but are not limited to:

• One piece of cardboard to stand on (no larger than 3′x5′)
• One blanket (carried in over the shoulder)
• One factory-sealed water bottle (20oz or less)
• Portable batteries (no larger than 6″x3″x1.5″ and disconnected from devices or heated clothing while going through security)

Items you may not bring include, but are not limited to:

• Glass, metal or plastic thermoses, cups, bottles or flasks
• Noisemakers of any kind
• Portable heaters
• Floor mats and carpet squares

For a full list of approved and prohibited items, click here.

How to stay warm and safe

• Stop by a warming station
  • Outside the stadium- Warming trailers will be available on the medians between lots C & D, lots F & G and at the southwest corner of lot A.
  • Inside the stadium- Nine warming stations will be located on the inside of the stadium when gates open:
    • At the bottom of each of the four Field Level spirals
    • Near the Jim Beam and Crown Royal bars located on the Upper Level
    • Near the Red Zones on the east and west sides of the Upper Level
    • At Champions Tailgate north located on the Plaza Level near the T-Mobile Gate
• Bundle up and prepare
  • Wear loose-fitting layers and cover all exposed skin.
  • Blankets, 3′x5′ cardboard squares, and batteries to power heated jackets are allowed in the stadium.
• Stay hydrated
  • All guests can bring a factory-sealed bottle of water, 20 ounces or less. Hot chocolate will also be available at all Chiefs Bar, Tailgater, Burger Kitchen, Cowtown and Sheridan’s locations on the Field and Upper Levels.

Watch: Marleah Campbell and Carolina Cruz break down what to bring and what to expect.

ALSO READ: Chiefs bar in Buffalo preparing for packed house for AFC Championship Game

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