Arrowhead during the 1980s

[Zap Rowsdower]

I have been going down the youtube rabbit hole and watching random Chiefs games from the 1980s. From the television shots, Arrowhead seemed like such a different place than it is now. Sure, the team sucked, but it looked different than even the down years of the late 2000s. Very few people wore red. Hardly anyone sat in the upper deck. My first game at Arrowhead wasn’t until 1995 so I missed that era. For those that attended in the late 70’s and the 1980s, what was it like? Did people tailgate? Did more families attend than they do now? What stories do you have from that era?

[Katipan]

I think there were a lot of broken wagon wheels and dysentery.

[ToxSocks]

As a Chiefs fan the 70's and 80's basically don't exist. It's a void in time, an era lost in the unknown.

[blake5676]

Originally Posted by Zap Rowsdower

I have been going down the youtube rabbit hole and watching random Chiefs games from the 1980s. From the television shots, Arrowhead seemed like such a different place than it is now. Sure, the team sucked, but it looked different than even the down years of the late 2000s. Very few people wore red. Hardly anyone sat in the upper deck. My first game at Arrowhead wasn’t until 1995 so I missed that era. For those that attended in the late 70’s and the 1980s, what was it like? Did people tailgate? Did more families attend than they do now? What stories do you have from that era?

I started going in the early 90's as a kid when my dad first bought season tickets. I have vivid memories of everyone around me being just as loaded as they are today. I do remember seeing tits somewhat regularly as a kid too. So those that say people are more out of control drunk and sloppy now compared to yesteryear are just suffering from recency bias IMO.

As far as the crowds, I'm pretty sure the entire 90's were mostly packed houses. We were a perennial playoff team and almost always had a stout D, which made for a loud Arrowhead. I'd imagine Frank Gansz/Marv Levy years had some pretty empty upper bowls with those stinkers of a team.

[wazu]

When the Chiefs were discussed during the 80s I remember hearing people say that their players looked smaller than the players other teams had. Like they just weren't big enough to play football.

[FloridaMan88]

The low point in the 1980's was a game against the Jets I think when there was like 11,000 fans in attendance.

[ChiefsCountry]

I don't think wearing the team colors really became a thing until the 90s.
Look at the crowds from 1985 World Series

[wazu]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I don't think wearing the team colors really became a thing until the 90s.
Look at the crowds from 1985 World Series

Yeah, I remember going to Royals games during that era as a kid I would always wear my Royals ball cap, but anything else blue would have just been accidental.

[scho63]

I remember watching games in the 70's and 80's and there were some seriously empty stadiums, especially in the 4th quarter when we were down big with no hope.

I think of some of those games and I shudder.

It was the Dark Ages for sure.

[digger]

I can remember hearing the last blackout game on 101 the fox...


I'm that old...


I also remember the switch from astro-turf to grass...

[Kman34]

I could go to the stadium the week of the game and buy front row corner endzone tickets in the mid 80s.. And not break the bank either..

[scho63]

Originally Posted by digger

I can remember hearing the last blackout game on 101 the fox...


I'm that old...


I also remember the switch from astro-turf to grass...

I hate to admit that I loved the old astroturf. The players not so much.

The colors and design always looked awesome on TV

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by digger

I can remember hearing the last blackout game on 101 the fox...


I'm that old...


I also remember the switch from astro-turf to grass...

1994 - Joe Montana's second (and final) year with the Chiefs.

That was 30 years ago. Wow.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by ToxSocks

As a Chiefs fan the 70's and 80's basically don't exist. It's a void in time, an era lost in the unknown.

So true.

[Mike in SW-MO]

Honestly, the only game I ever attended in the 80's was when my high school band played at half-time. They brought in like 10 bands to help put butts in seats. Pretty sad.