FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure announced Friday that the Kansas City Chiefs Champion Tour will join the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival at 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11 at Springfield Expo Center.
The Kansas City Chiefs launched the Chiefs Champion Tour this summer to provide fans the opportunity to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVII victory. It is a mobile brand experience that brings the Chiefs to communities around the club's six-state "home" region. This marks the first time in franchise history that the Chiefs have hosted a tour that invites members of Chiefs Kingdom to celebrate one of the club's Super Bowl victories.
"With a global pandemic in 2020, we were not able to celebrate properly with Chiefs Kingdom after our Super Bowl LIV victory, so this tour has been something we have been looking forward to for the past couple of years. We are proud of the team here that helped put together this summer-long trip that invites the Kingdom to celebrate with us.," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said.
The general public will have two opportunities to join the celebration. The club's Super Bowl LVII Lombardi Trophy being the main attraction at a rally from 4-6 p.m. at Springfield Expo Center, 635 E. St. Louis. In addition to the trophy, the event includes an appearance by the "Kingdom Cruiser" bus, appearances by Chiefs Cheerleaders, the Rumble drumline, as well as KC Wolf and more.
The fun doesn't stop there. At 6 p.m., the bus and entourage will leave the facility, lining up to join a portion of the Birthplace of Route 66 Parade, The Kingdom Cruiser, cheerleaders, and drumline and KC Wolf will all feature prominently in this festive procession of classic cars and motorcycles.
The culmination of the day's events is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the festival’s Motorcycle Village, where the cheerleaders, and drumline will perform once again on the Aaron Sachs Stage. Mayor McClure has encouraged everyone to remember to wear red to support our team.
“We are excited to bring the Kansas City Chiefs Champions Tour to Springfield and the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival,” said Mayor McClure. “Without a doubt, the Springfield region is Chiefs Kingdom!”
The Chiefs Champion Tour stop in Springfield is made possible thanks to generous sponsorships.
Gold ($10,000 or more)
Aaron Sachs & Associates
EPIC Strategies
City of Springfield (in-kind)
Loren Cook Company
Wampler & Passanise
SRC
University Plaza
Red ($5000 )
Coyote’s Sports Café
EPIC Strategies
Heart of America Beverage Company
Route 66 Car Museum
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Want to Come?
This year, the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, will feature an exciting “guest”—the trophy from the Big Game! The following is a comprehensive guide to this unique event slated for Friday, August 11, 2023.
The Tour:
4-6 p.m. – (Doors open at 3:30 p.m.) The Champion Tour kicks off in Springfield at the Expo Center, 635 E. St. Louis. The venue is generously donated by University Plaza/Atrium Hospitality. Take photo with the Super Bowl Trophy, get see the Kingdom Cruiser, meet the Chiefs Cheerleaders and feel the rumble of the drum line! Kids won’t want to miss getting their photo taken with the one and only KC Wolf! Come celebrate the champs all over again!
6:30 – 7 p.m.
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Parade
What better way to end a class car parade than with an appearance by the Kansas City Chiefs Champion Tour, featuring the Kingdom Cruiser, with Super Bowl Trophy on board! The Kingdom Cruiser is the Chiefs’ Double Decker Bus, which will be accompanied by the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders, drumline and KC Wolf! The tour will roll down the Mother Road (College) from Grant to St. Louis!
7-7:45 p.m.
Rally at the Aaron Sachs Stage at Motorcycle Village
The culmination of the day's events is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Motorcycle Village, where the trophy, cheerleaders, and drumline will perform once again on the Aaron Sachs Stage, rounding off an eventful day in spectacular style. Remember to wear red to support your team.
Both events are free and open to the public. Expo Center doors open at 3:30 p.m., granting access to the upper and lower lobbies, restrooms, and exhibition areas. However, the main draw—the public viewing of the trophy—will begin promptly at 4 p.m.
The best viewing of the Kingdom Cruiser and trophy will be from 6:30-7 p.m. along the parade route – on Route 66 (College/St. Louis) between Grant and Jefferson. The event concludes at 7:45 p.m. at the Aaron Sachs Stage.
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For more information, contact Cora Scott, Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Director and Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement for the City of Springfield, Mo. at 417-380-3352 or [email protected] or Jennifer Jones, Senior Director of Brand Strategy & Fan Development, at [email protected].