Chiefs Fans, Used to Chops and Cheers, React to N.F.L.’s New Climate

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kent Gaines stepped out of his car on Thursday evening, a red mask swinging from his finger, and took in the scene around him in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium. It was just before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans kicked off to start an N.F.L. season unlike any he had ever experienced as a season-ticket holder.

The Chiefs were defending a Super Bowl crown for the first time in half a century. They featured the league’s highest paid, and arguably most electric, player in Patrick Mahomes, and expectations were as high as can be.

But these are hardly the things that make this season unique.

This is, of course, the year of the coronavirus pandemic. And what was supposed to be a celebratory start to a title defense, complete with a ring ceremony and a championship banner reveal in a packed stadium, was instead retrofitted for a time of masks and social distancing. The crowd size was reduced to 22 percent of capacity — about 17,000 fans — and the familiar rituals of tailgating and wearing of Native American regalia were all but nonexistent.

“It’s kind of surreal,” said Gaines, 57, surveying a parking lot that was tightly packed with cars in some sections, but had plenty of empty asphalt all around. “Really this place should be smoke billowing everywhere.”

Chiefs fans pride themselves on noise and the atmosphere they create, often boasting that they have the loudest stadium in the N.F.L. Now, for the opener, gray clouds hung low as a mist sprinkled on a chilly evening. There was no stream of fans into the stadium, just a trickle.

When the Chiefs made a big play or scored a touchdown, the roar that could be heard outside the stadium was much fainter than the usual rumble. Signs outside reminded people to maintain social distance, wear masks and not to smoke or spit. One empty lot lined with orange cones was designated a tailgate lot, but asked drivers to park one space apart for “social distancing parking.”

For all the changes, there were still plenty of loud fireworks and red jerseys. There was also the boom of the familiar war chant, accompanied by a hand chop, that has been the source of much controversy in recent years with complaints that it is disrespectful to Native Americans.

The Chiefs have taken steps to address concerns over the use of Native American imagery. They banned Native headdresses and face paint at the stadium and changed the way the cheerleaders lead the chop, doing it with a closed fist instead of an open palm. Chiefs fans generally have said the changes do not bother them, but there are decidedly mixed opinions on whether those traditions should be allowed.

“If the chop’s gone, I’m gone,” said Brennan Masterson, 20, outside of the stadium.

“How is it OK for the past how many years, but now that it’s 2020 it’s apparently offensive,” his friend, Hannah Bennett, 19, said.

“Because now only Black lives matter?” Bennett’s mother, Stacy Madrigal, 38, chimed in. “All lives matter.”

As a person of Mexican descent, Carlos Blanco said he understood the need to move away from Native American imagery at games.

“It’s a tradition, but if people are feeling offended about it, then that’s something we could change since everything has popped up with all the racism there is in the world,” said Blanco, who bought a ticket at the 40-yard line on the secondary market for $250.

The national discussion over racial injustice that has touched almost every part of society, including the sports world, was a part of Thursday night’s game as the Texans stayed in the locker room during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Players from both teams linked arms on the field in a moment of silence for racial justice and a smattering of boos could be heard from the crowd.

Even though this was not exactly the celebration that Chiefs fans envisioned to start their title defense after winning the Super Bowl in February, some saw upside to the new normal. Travis Comeau, 41, appreciated that it was easier to find parking at the stadium — though he and his wife were disappointed that their plan to buy season tickets this season fell through because of the coronavirus restrictions.

Blanco said the emptier stadium would be less of a hassle.

“I’ve been in a lot of stadiums and there are always too many drunk people,” he said.

A 20-minute drive from the stadium, in downtown Kansas City, opening night for the Chiefs was met with some semblance of normalcy, at least compared to how things have been during the pandemic. Hundreds of fans clad in red jerseys, most of them not wearing masks, watched the game on a big screen in the open air plaza at the Power & Light District, an entertainment pavilion surrounded by bars and restaurants.

Darrell Chism, 28, who wore a blue mask pulled over his nose and mouth, said he was surprised so many people came out.

“Everybody would probably prefer to be at the first home game and being inside and getting to see the banner and the ring exchange rather than watching it on TV,” he said. “But I feel like as a city, everybody is still pretty proud about the win.”

Fans in the pavilion lifted their drinks and roared with each play that helped the Chiefs. At halftime, an M.C. called up some fans to play games — in one of them, two fans competed to see who could hold a pitcher of water, with their arms out straight, the longest.

Alex Elrick, 30, raised a hand in the air and let out a loud whoop at the encouragement of the M.C. Months ago, Elrick, who is from Castle Rock, Colo., did not think the night would go like this.

She has been a Chiefs fan since someone (Santa Claus, she claims) got her a Chiefs jacket for Christmas. In April, she bought tickets for the home opener and was excited to see the team play in person for the first time. But the tickets were refunded because of the reduction in fan capacity. Still, she made the nine-hour drive to town from Castle Rock to soak in the atmosphere of the city that is home to her beloved team that finally won a championship.

“It is what it is,” Elrick said of not being able to attend the game and having to settle for watching it at an outdoor bar. She does not think that she will have to wait another 50 years to attend a home opener for a Chiefs team that is the reigning Super Bowl champion.

“It’ll happen,” she said.