REPORTER: IT IS ALWAYS RIGHT HERE. WHEN IT COMES TO KANSAS CITY AND LOOKING FOR A HOTEL ROOM IT IS SORT OF LIKE MUSICAL CHAIRS. FANS THINK THEY HAVE SO MUCH TIME. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. AREA HOTELS ARE LOVING THE DEMAND THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS BRINGING, HERE TO KANSAS CITY. REPORTER: HERE IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, IT’S THE CALM BEFORE THE CHAMPIONSHIP STORM. >> IT’S COOL,THEN REALLY EXCITING AS WELL. REPORTER: FOR MANAGER KIMBERLY HAYWARD AND HER STAFF THE EXCITEMENT FOR SUNDAYS BIG GAME STARTED EARLY LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON. >> ODDLY ENOUGH, IT WAS DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE BILLS GAME. THAT’S WHEN THE PHONE STARTED RINGING. REPORTER: NOT JUST RINGING, JUMPING OFF THE HOOK, AND THAT WASN’T THE ONLY THING HOPPING AT THE HOTEL. REPORTER: THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF JUMPING UP AND DOWN, NOT JUST ME, BUT OUR STAFF MEMBERS. ALSO HUGE FANS, THAT BILLS LOSS AND CHIEFS WIN TURNED WHAT WAS LOOKING LIKE A HUGE MISS FOR THE KC ECONOMY INTO A TOUCHDOWN, >> I THINK 20 TO 30 MILES OF THE STADIUM YOU’RE PROBABLY SOLD OUT. REPORTER: THOSE THAT AREN’T SOON WILL BE, WITH CHIEFS AND FANS OF THAT TEAM IN ORANGE AND BLACK, >> KANSAS CITY FANS TREAT THEM WONDERFULLY. THEY TALK ABOUT THE BEST BARBECUE. THEY TALK ABOUT THE BEST ROUTES TO THE STADIUM. WE HAVE GOOD FANS HERE. AND THE VISITING FANS, WE’VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. REPORTER: NO ISSUE AT AS THEY COME TO THE STADIUM, TAKE A LOSS AND THEN GO HOME. SUPPLY IS GOING DOWN PRICE IS GOING UP. I HAVE A COUCH IN MY LIVING ROOM I AM WILLING TO RENT
It's the calm before the AFC Championship storm at Kansas City hotels
That Bills loss and Chiefs win turned what looked like a huge miss for the KC economy into a touchdown.
Updated: 6:05 PM CST Jan 26, 2023
In the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express, it's the calm before the AFC Championship storm.“ It's cool. Then really exciting as well,” Pamela Hayward said.The excitement for the Kansas City Chiefs' big game started early last Sunday afternoon for Hayward, a manager at the Holiday Inn, and her staff.“Oddly enough, it was during the third quarter of the Bills game. That's when the phone started ringing,” Hayward said.Not just ringing, jumping off the hook. That wasn't the only thing hopping at the hotel.“There was a little bit of jumping up and down, not just me, but our staff members, also huge fans,” Hayward said.That Bills loss and Chiefs win turned what looked like a huge miss for the KC economy into a touchdown.“I think 20 to 30 miles of the stadium, you're probably sold out,” Hayward said.Those that aren't soon will be, with chiefs and fans of the Cincinnati Bengals pouring into the city.“Kansas City fans treat them wonderfully. They talk about the best barbecue. They talk about the best routes to the stadium. We have good fans here. And the visiting fans, we've never had an issue,” Hayward said.The good news is that there are still rooms available. Inventory will go down, and prices will start going up, especially for people who decide to roll in on Saturday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express, it's the calm before the AFC Championship storm.
“ It's cool. Then really exciting as well,” Pamela Hayward said.
The excitement for the Kansas City Chiefs' big game started early last Sunday afternoon for Hayward, a manager at the Holiday Inn, and her staff.
“Oddly enough, it was during the third quarter of the Bills game. That's when the phone started ringing,” Hayward said.
Not just ringing, jumping off the hook. That wasn't the only thing hopping at the hotel.
“There was a little bit of jumping up and down, not just me, but our staff members, also huge fans,” Hayward said.
That Bills loss and Chiefs win turned what looked like a huge miss for the KC economy into a touchdown.
“I think 20 to 30 miles of the stadium, you're probably sold out,” Hayward said.
Those that aren't soon will be, with chiefs and fans of the Cincinnati Bengals pouring into the city.
“Kansas City fans treat them wonderfully. They talk about the best barbecue. They talk about the best routes to the stadium. We have good fans here. And the visiting fans, we've never had an issue,” Hayward said.
The good news is that there are still rooms available. Inventory will go down, and prices will start going up, especially for people who decide to roll in on Saturday.