KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hanging from the balcony at the KC Live! block, the signs read Red Kingdom, but a crowd from H-Town didn’t seem to notice as they chanted “Houston Texans” in call and response.
“My sister likes Kelce but Texans got this,” said 10-year-old Michael Moreno.
He held a sign featuring his hometown of El Campo.
“It’s a small town outside of Houston. You blink and you drive right past it,” said his dad, Ricky Moreno.
It was the invasion of the Traveling Texans. Some flew into town. The die-hard fans boarded one of two charter tour buses for a 12-hour ride.
“We are so pumped to be here,” said Alvarado Hilario, who made the road trip with his wife and son.
Wearing a cowboy hat with horns painted in Texans colors, Hilario then launched, unprompted, into an ode to Kansas City nice.
Saturday will be Alvarado Hilario’s first game at Arrowhead. He heaped praise on Kansas City residents without prompting.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
“Y’all have been so welcoming,” he gushed. “I’m used to that Texas hospitality, and you’ve given that, from the Uber rides, just walking around. It’s really good hospitality here in Kansas City.”
Speaking of Texas hospitality, Hilario wouldn’t even say the words “mean” or “rude” when asked about other football towns in his travels.
“Okay, I’ll put it out there,” he said when pushed. “Philadelphia is probably the fans that are not like Kansas City fans.”
Even first-time Traveling Texans like Keila and Tim Smithers know what to expect at Arrowhead.
“It’s loud,” said Tim. “Open field.”
“Loud and windy,” Keila added.
“And cold,” said Tim.
The Traveling Texans take over the KC Live! block Friday night.
On what was an unseasonably balmy winter day for KC, with temperatures pushing 50 degrees, Debbie Kerschen was rubbing her hands together asking if anyone had gloves.
Kerschen was the apparent Traveling Texans cheer captain. Her fan name is BOBO, her maiden name, as a tribute to her dad.
Wearing a cowboy hat fully covered in rhinestones with a feather boa in team colors draping behind it like a bridal veil, she oozed with Texas hospitality and kept the crowd in rhythm as they chanted for several Houston TV stations, including a Telemundo station.
Debbie Kerschen, fan name BOBO, spent hours making a custom rhinestone cowboy hat. She also makes custom rhinestone cowboy boots.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)
Alongside her was another Texans fan who has had the same seats at home since becoming a season ticket holder in 2002, the team’s inaugural year. JJ Justilian made it his mission to hit every single game this year — home and away. He was all in on a Texans win, but he still had love for the Chiefs.
“I’m a big Patrick Mahomes fan because I’m a Texas Tech Red Raider,” said Justilian. “I have mad respect for the Kansas City Chiefs, formerly the Dallas Texans, so we have that connection too. We have our hands full, but we’re here to put on a show.”
There were a surprising number of Kansas City connections to be found with enough Kansas City nice chit-chat.
Texans fan Rob Arocha knows Kansas City well, having competed eight times in the American Royal World Series of Barbecue.
“This past year, we finished fourth in the world in ribs in the American Royal Open and 27th overall out of 444 teams,” Arocha said. “I love everything about Kansas City. I feel like it’s one of my second homes. But this weekend is all about our Texans. And I’m hoping that we take down the World Champions.”
Texans fan Rob Arocha and his team, Bullhorn BBQ, won big at the American Royal.(Courtsey: Rob Arocha)
Texans do have a barbecue style all their own. Kerschen raved about the burnt ends she had at LC’s earlier in the day.
“We don’t have that in Texas,” she said. “It was so good.”
She did her best to keep everyone on their best behavior, like a sorority house mom.
“Be respectful,” she said each time the group mugged for the camera.
Maybe she’s the reason everyone was so nice, mimicking what they encountered in Kansas City.
“You get what you give off,” she remarked when her version of nice was complimented.
The odds are not in their favor but they came with enthusiasm and expectations as big as Texas.
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