Getty Image
It is going to be cold in Arrowhead Stadium when the Kansas City Chiefs play host to the Miami Dolphins for an AFC Wild Card game on Saturday night.
Like, really, really cold…
The National Weather Service forecasts that when the Chiefs and the Dolphins kick off at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday night, the temperature in Kansas City, Missouri will be around 5 degrees with a wind chill of -10 to -20.
And it’ll only get colder as the game progresses.
NFL Wild Card weather update at Arrowhead in KC between #ChiefsKingdom and #FinsUp
Wind chills will plummet into the minus 30s °F during the game 📉
Over/Under 43.5 pic.twitter.com/95c15Qv4xY
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 12, 2024
Wind chills are expected to make it the real feel as low as negative 30 degrees during the contest.
The CDC advises people to avoid physical exertion while dealing with extreme cold.
“Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart,” the agency states. “If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy out- door chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don’t overdo it.”
Obviously, that’s not really option for players in an NFL game.
Fans Call For Chiefs-Dolphins To Be Moved Due To Weather
And fans on the sideline will not have access to all of the equipment and resources that players will to stay war. Which is why a number of fans are calling on the NFL to move either the location or the time of the game between Miami and Kansas City.
What about the fans and employees at the stadium? It’s incredibly stupid the league is sitting back ignoring and kinda promoting at how cold it’ll be through their various media outlets. https://t.co/aQ1qLSD66a
— Biscayne Bae (@BiscayneBae) January 12, 2024
This is what happens when old leadership makes bad decisions.
Now all the league has to say is the precedent has been established with the Ice Bowl and San Diego vs Cincinnati – Air temperature was −9 °F (−23 °C), windchill was -51 degrees. https://t.co/PYLgbyRyNg
— T. Ball (@taball1) January 12, 2024
We’re entering a point where every new stadium probably should be a dome, whether it’s extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, there’s too much money at stake for leagues to be changing schedules or risking injury to players and fans because of unpredictable weather. https://t.co/6oHRdthk4q
— Norm Charlatan (@normcharlatan) January 12, 2024
Many fans suggested moving the game to St. Louis. Though the cities are over three hours apart and it would be nearly impossible to prepare The Dome at America’s Center (the former home of the St. Louis Rams) on such short notice.
Other fans suggest moving the kick time forward or the game to Sunday. Though Sunday’s forecast is even colder than Saturday’s.
Ultimately, it’s just part of the game. But it probably won’t be much fun for fans or players.