‘They’re great fans, I love them;’ Bengals fans gather in Kansas City before Sunday’s playoff game
Cincinnati Bengals took over Downtown Kansas City Saturday night for a big party as they geared up to watch the Bengals take on the Chiefs Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised Sunday night on Channel 7.
The winner advances to the big game to play in Glendale, Arizona on February 12.
>>PHOTOS: Bengals fans gather in Kansas City before Sunday’s playoff game
News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis is covering the Bengals in Kansas City and had his black and orange on. He said there were plenty of Bengals fans out in Kansas City Saturday night, hundreds were decked in their stripes. They are pumped for Sunday’s game.
“Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?” fans chanted Saturday night.
Kansas City’s Power and Light district almost felt like it could be in Cincinnati.
“I love all these people from Cincinnati,” said Laura Keith, Bengals fan. “They’re great fans, I love them.”
David Jackson told Lewis during the drive to Kansas City, they were passing cars and all cheering ready to go.
“We’re pretty excited for this weekend,” he said. “There are Bengals everywhere.”
>>Bengals playing Chiefs in AFC Championship game at Kansas City for 2nd straight year
Lewis says the ‘Who Dey’ chants could be heard all evening.
Alexander Cotton drove to Kansas City from Huber Heights and he told News Center 7 seeing all the black and orange, gives him hope Sunday.
“These are the die-hards that are here,” he said. “These are the Cincinnati Bengals fans. We’ve been there through and through, through the ups and the downs; and we’re here.”
Fans of all ages are in Kansas City to support the Bengals.
“Many, many years growing up as a kid watching the game with my dad,” he told Lewis. “We didn’t win anything and here we are, actually contenders for once. So, it’s kind of nice.”
>>‘They travel really well, the Who Dey Nation;’ Bengals fans in Kansas City have BBQ options
Jake Edwards is glad to be in Kansas City for Sunday’s game.
“We wouldn’t miss this,” he said. “Absolutely wouldn’t miss it.”
For a long-time fan like Laura Keith, the success of the Bengals means everything to her.
“I became a fan in 1989, 1990, bought season tickets in 1991 and I’ve been following them ever since,” she told Lewis. “Huge fan, went through all the hardship and this is just amazing to me right now and I just want a Super Bowl win in my lifetime, that’s all I ask for.”
That’s what so many of these fans are hoping for and why they made the trip out west to Kansas City.
“This is awesome,” said Alexander Cotton. “We brought ‘Who Dey’ Nation to Kansas City, let’s go!”
Lewis says the party will continue Sunday with the Big Bengal Jim Tailgate.
>>Bengals fans need to bundle for Sunday’s game at Kansas City
News Center 7 will have coverage of the Bengals and Chiefs leading up to kickoff.
This includes the Orange Zone on Sunday morning, Jan. 29, at 11:30 a.m. with John Bedell and Larry Hansgen.
News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis will also provide live coverage from Kansas City.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The winner will play either San Francisco or Philadelphia on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.
