You’d think after back-to-back Super Bowls, things would get quiet in the Midwest. Honestly, it was the exact opposite. 2024 in Kansas City was basically a fever dream of stadium lights, packed art fairs, and a baseball team that finally decided to stop breaking everyone's hearts.
If you’re looking at the kansas city 2024 schedule, you’re probably either a Chiefs fanatic double-checking the scores from that wild regular season or a local trying to remember which weekend the Plaza Art Fair actually happened. Or maybe you're just wondering how the Royals managed to sneak into the postseason for the first time since the "Summer of 1738" vibes of 2015.
Let's be real: keeping track of everything in this city is a full-time job. Between the NFL kickoff at Arrowhead and the NWSL Championship at the shiny new CPKC Stadium, the 2024 calendar was relentless.
The Chiefs: A 15-Win Rollercoaster
Everyone remembers the big games, but the actual rhythm of the kansas city 2024 schedule for the Chiefs was weirdly stressful for a team that started 9-0. They opened the season on September 5 against the Ravens—a nail-biter that ended 27-20. It set the tone. Most of their wins weren’t blowouts; they were "survive and advance" moments.
Look at the stretch in October. After a Week 6 bye, they went on the road to San Francisco and Las Vegas. They took down the 49ers 28-18 and then squeezed past the Raiders 27-20. By the time November rolled around, fans were exhausted just watching. The undefeated dream finally died on November 17 in Buffalo. That 30-21 loss to the Bills was a reality check, but it didn't stop the momentum for long.
They finished the regular season with a 15-2 record. 15 wins! That’s a franchise record. But then came the playoffs.
Postseason Heartbreak
The January 2025 playoffs (part of the 2024 season cycle) were legendary.
- Divisional Round: Beat the Texans 23-14 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead.
- AFC Championship: A 32-29 thriller over the Bills (again, Buffalo just can't catch a break).
- Super Bowl LIX: This is the part most KC fans want to forget. A 40-22 loss to the Eagles in New Orleans on February 9. The "three-peat" dream ended, but what a run.
Why the Royals Finally Mattered Again
For a long time, the Royals' schedule was something you looked at if you wanted cheap hot dogs and a nice sunset. 2024 changed that. They started on March 28 against the Twins at the K. Most experts didn't expect much, but by the time the I-70 series against the Cardinals rolled around in July and August, the city was buzzing.
On September 14, they officially secured their first winning record since 2015. They ended the regular season with a 6-game road trip through Washington and Atlanta. Clinching that postseason berth on September 27 was a massive moment for the "Boys in Blue." It wasn't just about the games; it was about Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha actually giving the rotation some teeth.
Beyond the Stadium: Festivals and Culture
If you weren't at a game, you were probably at a festival. The kansas city 2024 schedule was packed with the usual suspects, but the crowds felt bigger this year.
Boulevardia took over Crown Center on June 14 and 15. Milky Chance and Thundercat headlined, and the beer flowed like, well, Boulevard. Then you had the Plaza Art Fair from September 20 to 22. It covers nine city blocks. Over 250,000 people showed up. If you tried to park anywhere near the Plaza that weekend, you know the pain.
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We also saw some "firsts." The NWSL Championship was held at CPKC Stadium on November 23. It’s the first stadium in the world built specifically for a women’s pro sports team. That’s a huge deal for KC’s "Soccer Capital of America" claim.
Key Dates from the 2024 Calendar
- March 28: Royals Opening Day vs. Twins.
- June 14-15: Boulevardia at Crown Center.
- September 5: Chiefs Kickoff vs. Ravens.
- September 20-22: Plaza Art Fair.
- October 4-5: KC Oktoberfest (because who doesn't love a giant pretzel?).
- November 23: NWSL Championship at CPKC Stadium.
- December 25: Chiefs at Steelers (Netflix's first big Christmas Day NFL broadcast).
The Misconception About "Flyover" Entertainment
People think the Midwest is quiet in the winter. Wrong. The Kauffman Center was booked solid. We had Kimberly Akimbo in January and the KC Symphony doing Beethoven and Beyond. Even Billie Eilish made a stop at the T-Mobile Center in November for her "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour.
The American Royal Livestock Show in October reminded everyone of the city's roots, even as the skyline keeps growing. It’s that mix of "cowtown" and "cosmopolitan" that makes the schedule so chaotic and fun.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you’re planning your life around the next version of the kansas city 2024 schedule, here’s what you need to do:
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- Book Downtown Hotels Early: For events like the Plaza Art Fair or the NFL Draft (when it comes back around), prices triple within hours of the schedule release.
- Get the Season Apps: Both the Chiefs and Royals apps are significantly better for real-time traffic updates around the stadium than Google Maps alone.
- Watch the Secondary Market: For the Royals, tickets were dirt cheap in April but spiked in September. If they’re winning, buy your late-season seats in June.
- CPKC Stadium Strategy: If you're heading to the Northland for a Current game, use the shuttle services. Parking at the actual stadium is a logistical nightmare unless you're a VIP.
2024 was a year of "almosts" for the Chiefs and "finallys" for the Royals. It was a year where the music scene exploded and the city proved it can host world-class events without breaking a sweat. Whether you were there for the jousting at the Renaissance Festival or the juking at Arrowhead, it was a schedule for the history books.
Make sure to clear your calendar for the first Friday of every month—the Crossroads district is still the place to be, regardless of what the pro sports teams are doing.