How to survive January in KC without the Chiefs in the playoffs
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The Chiefs' regular season is over, and for the first time in 11 years, KC isn't in the playoffs.
Why it matters: Kansas Citians who built January traditions around cheering on the home team will have to call an audible.
The big picture: Instead of screaming, crying or staring hopelessly at a blank TV screen, here are some better ideas for a winning winter season.
🥅 Get really into other local sports — with winning records
- Kansas City's minor league hockey team, the Mavericks, is leading the ECHL Western Conference. And the Comets are in first place in the Major Arena Soccer League standings by a wide margin.
- For more winter sports fun, check out KC's curling club.
⛷️ Make alternative plans each weekend
- Hit the slopes at Snow Creek (if they can keep enough snow to stay open). Waddle over to the zoo's weekend penguin marches. Make a fool of yourself at a local ice rink, including Crown Center Ice Terrace or the KC Ice Center in Shawnee.
🏈 Paint a football field on your yard and host your own playoffs
- People have done this before. And certainly any sort of backyard football would be more fun to watch than this season's Chiefs.
- We understand you probably can't build a dome, but that hasn't seemed to be an issue until recently.
🕰️ Do whatever locals did before 2014
- Making the playoffs is not historically the norm. Those who grew up here probably have some recollection of a typical Chiefs-less January. Ask them.
☀️ Go outside and touch grass
- Seriously, the weather is going to be really warm this week (we're not sure that's a good thing). Better to soak up the sun at Loose Park or English Landing than rot inside on the couch all depressed.
The bottom line: We don't have to spend all month licking our wounds.