Detroit Lions fan travel tips for the visit to Kansas City in Week 6
After a drought of 20 years without playing in Kansas City, the Lions will play there on October 12, 2025 for the second time in three years. It’s a Sunday Night Football game which will make for an excellent atmosphere just like their last matchup.
I was there for the NFL season opener on September 7, 2023 when the Lions pulled off the 21-20 upset over the defending champs on banner night. The most memorable play was the Brian Branch pick-6 which drove the many Lions fans in attendance into a frenzy.
That night, the Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl by revealing the banner. The celebration and banner reveal I found a bit underwhelming. Hopefully, the Lions rendition in 2026 will be more dramatic.
Here are some tips from my trip for those planning on heading to Kansas City this fall. (This article is unbiased and unsponsored.)
FOOD
As an aficionado of smoking meats (aka barbecue) at home, Kansas City for me was all about trying out the barbecue. Besides the typical smoked meat options like brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, the city is famous for its burnt ends which are cube-shaped pieces of smoked brisket usually finished off in BBQ sauce.
I was able to try many locations during my stay. These are listed in order starting with my favorite with the caveat that I only ate at each place once. As those who smoke their own meats know, there can be a lot of variability as each cut of meat can cook differently.
This was my favorite KC BBQ restaurant by far because the tenderness of the meats was vastly superior while still carrying well-developed crusts. If you are doing anything downtown, it’s within walking distance making it an easy (and must) pit stop.
The brisket was a standout compared to all other places due to the fall-apart, juicy tenderness paired with the nice crust. The burnt ends were also very tender with a well-developed crust. The pork ribs had a good dry spicy rub. Baked beans were the best on my trip. The “Red Carolina” cole slaw was unique with a spicy kick that was reminiscent of Korean kimchi.
Jack had my favorite cole slaw of the trip – crunchy, fresh, with a tangy je ne sais quoi. The crown prime rib (beef short rib) was a more unique dish offered here which is a good choice if you hunger for a huge slab of beef. The brisket was nicely tender but somewhat bland and under-seasoned. The burnt ends were pretty good but overly sweet.
This restaurant doesn’t have the gritty ambience of the others but is very conveniently located inside the Crown Center shopping mall next to Union Station and the WWI Memorial. The burnt ends and brisket were solid options here.
The pork ribs here were the best of the trip as they were very tender with a tasty rub. Unfortunately, the other meats were underwhelming. The burnt ends did not have a real crust and the brisket was a bit tough.
The burnt ends had a decent sweet rub but were tough. Similarly, the brisket had good flavor but was also a bit tough. The pork ribs were fine but nothing special. The sides were excellent with the cole slaw, pickle chips, potato salad, and beans.
The organization and efficiency of this restaurant could use some work. The layout forces the line to snake through the middle of the restaurant causing people to bump into each other constantly. I felt like Jahmyr Gibbs struggling to try to find a hole to run through.
The brisket and burnt ends came out cold which was unforgivable. The brisket had a good flavor but was tough. The burnt ends had no actual “burnt” parts as it just tasted like generic, chopped up, slow-cooked, brisket meat. Ribs were good but not as tender as Q39.
TRANSPORTATION
- I stayed in the city and ride-shared throughout my trip. This generally worked very well except for a gameday nightmare which I’ll discuss below.
- KC Streetcar – This public transportation was an excellent way to travel from Union Station to downtown and anywhere in between. I rode the streetcar many times and found it pleasant, convenient, and safe. It’s also free so you can just hop on and off at a whim.
LODGING
There are many hotel options if you choose to stay in the downtown/Crossroads area. I stayed at the Loews Kansas City Hotel which was a nice hotel in a good central location. Picking a hotel close to Main St. will give you quicker access to the KC Streetcar.
GAMEDAY TIPS
The stadium is way out in the middle of nowhere so unless you are staying in one of the few adjacent hotels, transportation is something to prepare for.
Getting to the stadium via rideshare was very easy as everyone is going there at different times due to the massive amount of tailgating. However, getting back can be a nightmare as everyone is trying to leave at the same time. This problem was compounded because it was a night game when there are fewer rideshare drivers available around midnight. This exact same scenario will play out in 2025 when the Lions play the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
With thousands of people trying to get a ride at the same time, rideshare was overwhelmed and completely unavailable. I saw many people milling about and often exasperated with no good way to get home.
I was fortunately able to spot a driver who had missed his pickup and gave him $100 in cash to take me back downtown. This was about double what rideshare was charging but well worth it as the alternative could have been waiting until morning.
Based on my experience, I would definitely rent a car and park at the stadium unless you have a rock-solid plan for transportation home. There might be public bus transport via RideKC but I can’t confirm that for a night game. With so many people waiting around for rides, it seems like it would be excellent fan service for the Lions or the Chiefs to offer bus transport back downtown after the game.
THINGS TO DO
This is a must-see in KC and is just a short walk south of Union Station. The exterior architecture simply blew me away. The massive scale and grandeur of the tower and side structures is stunning. I’ve spent a lot of time in Paris which is legendary for its old-world architecture and this WWI Memorial is absolutely comparable.
Take a ride to the top of the Liberty Memorial tower in a rickety old elevator which gives you an excellent view of the city.
If you want to burn off some of your barbecue, you can easily walk for an hour or two around the surrounding parks which have memorial statues scattered throughout.
You see this famous location during every Chiefs game and for good reason. The architecture looks great and it’s adorned with Chiefs regalia during football season. The streetcar will drop you off right next to it.
Here is the impressive interior of Union Station which of course has more Chiefs decorations.
This free museum is located just south of the WWI Memorial. It’s a good place to escape from the hot or cold weather if you’re walking around the surrounding parks. There are a lot of interesting, interactive exhibits making it fun for kids and adults.
I’ve been to many zoos all over the country and this one ranks near or at the top.
The skylift was a highlight allowing for a relaxing overview. There is even a boat ride and a train for all you transportation enthusiasts.
Even the sloth was active.
It’s not just a zoo as the aquarium section was also excellent.
This is a nice outdoor shopping mall which is a good place to walk around on a nice day. There are many outdoor water fountains to visit. As you can see, even the fountains get into the Chiefs spirit.
If you really want to get some steps in, you can walk north on Broadway back to the WWI Memorial and Union Station which I did in about 1.5 hours.
This is a pleasant riverfront walk that is connected to downtown. It travels along the Missouri river and gives you a nice view of the elegantly shaped Christopher S. Bond Pylon Bridge.
This museum is worth it just for the impressive outdoor plaza and its many oversized art sculptures.
For all you aforementioned transportation enthusiasts, this steamboat museum can be a good way to kill an hour in the heart of downtown.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I was impressed with the walkability of Kansas City. The riverfront, downtown, Union Station, and the WWI Memorial are all great places to pleasantly stroll and are connected by the KC Streetcar when your feet get tired. The multitude of barbecue restaurants are a delight for carnivorous Lions (fans). Just make sure you have a good way to get back to your hotel after the game on Sunday night.
link
