Contact: Mike Vietti, National WWI Museum and Memorial, 816-888-8122, mvietti@theworldwar.org
KANSAS CITY, MO. – In conjunction with events occurring downtown on Wednesday, Feb. 5 to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2020 Super Bowl title, the National WWI Museum and Memorial will be open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is offering several amenities to fans planning to attend, including a special discount admission rate of $10 for all guests. These activities are made possible by the generous support of Sprint, Cumulus Radio/101.5 The Fox and Capitol Federal.
The celebration returns more than 50 years after the Kansas City Times estimated 12,000 fans gathered at a rally on Monday, Jan. 12, 1970 on the grounds of the Museum and Memorial to celebrate the 1970 Chiefs’ Super Bowl title. Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson proclaimed at the rally that, “This is the greatest football and sports town in the world.” Images from that edition of the Kansas City Times as well as historic images of football being played by American soldiers during WWI can be accessed here.
The 2020 celebration event features a parade at 11:30 a.m. through downtown Kansas City followed by a Victory Rally at approximately 1:30 p.m. co-hosted on the grounds of Union Station and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Spectators are invited to watch the rally from the North lawn of the Museum and Memorial. Fans are invited to tour the Museum during its extended hours of operation from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Museum and Memorial is offering a special menu in its Over There Café, featuring easy-to-carry football favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers, grab-and-go sandwiches and much more. Food/drinks will also be available in the Memorial Courtyard by the base of the Liberty Memorial Tower. Additionally, a large digital video board will be placed on the Southeast lawn of the Museum and Memorial grounds to offer fans another way of viewing the event.
Street closures will affect how fans are able to access the Museum and Memorial. Closures will occur at all typical access points surrounding the grounds (Kessler Rd., Main St., Memorial Drive, Pershing Rd., Wyandotte St.), so guests will need to proceed by foot to access the Museum and Memorial grounds.
The Liberty Memorial Tower is available to media wishing to capture the parade/rally from the top of the Tower. Staging space as well as high-bandwidth internet access for broadcast outlets is also available to the media from the Memorial Courtyard overlooking downtown Kansas City. For both elements, space is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Access must be coordinated in advance of the event date. Media interested in either element must contact Mike Vietti (816-888-8122; mvietti@theworldwar.org).
About the National WWI Museum and Memorial
The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impacts on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, MO., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.