{"id":958993,"date":"2026-07-29T22:33:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/958993\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:33:26","slug":"chiefs-fans-bring-family-traditions-optimism-for-2026-to-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/958993\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs fans bring family traditions, optimism for 2026 to training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

KSHB 41 reporter Tod Palmer covers sports business and eastern Jackson County, including Independence. Share your story idea with Tod<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

Last season was a disappointing one for the Kansas City Chiefs, but optimism was the dominant mood Wednesday as season ticket members got their first look at the 2026 team at training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri.<\/p>\n

Walter Johnson, a Chiefs season ticket member for 20 years, said the offseason moves have him encouraged.<\/p>\n

“I’m feeling pretty good about this year,\u201d he said. \u201cI like a lot of the changes that they made with players.”<\/p>\n

\"Chiefs<\/p>\n

Andrae Hannon\/KSHB 41<\/p>\n

The Johnson family at Chiefs Training Camp on Wednesday, July 29.<\/p>\n

Johnson has been bringing his family \u2014 including his son, Alex Johnson, to Chiefs games for two decades \u2014 and it is about far more than football<\/p>\n

“It’s nothing but bonding,\u201d Alex Johnson said. \u201cWe use these games as a time to come together as a family. Like my dad said, we’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I\u2019m looking forward to more memories and doing it again.”<\/p>\n

That sense of tradition extended to other families in attendance. Judy Grame, who attended training camp Wednesday with her family, summed up the mood simply.<\/p>\n

“We love training camp,\u201d she said. \u201cWe’re ready for football season.”<\/p>\n

Janel Zion, alongside Grame, said the trip is a yearly ritual.<\/p>\n

“It’s a tradition,\u201d Zion said. \u201cWe come every year.”<\/p>\n

For the Zahn sisters, the draw was not just football.<\/p>\n

Whitley Zahn, who attended training camp with her family, had a straightforward explanation for why she was there.<\/p>\n

“‘Cause Travis Kelce’s here,\u201d Whitley Zahn said, proudly wearing a shirt with Chiefs-themed Taylor Swift friendship bracelets on it.<\/p>\n

\"Chiefs<\/p>\n

Andrae Hannon\/KSHB 41<\/p>\n

The Zahn sisters expressed their love for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on Wednesday, July 29, at training camp.<\/p>\n

Her sister Avery Zahn explained why Kelce is her favorite player.<\/p>\n

“Because he’s related to Taylor Swift,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Swift-Kelce wedding<\/a> was the biggest offseason development for the Zahn sisters, but it wasn\u2019t the only one on the minds of Chiefs Kingdom.<\/p>\n

It has been a busy offseason for the Chiefs on and off the field.<\/p>\n

Chiefs fans bring family traditions, optimism for 2026 to St. Joseph training camp<\/p>\n

That includes excitement about new players, including reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III<\/a>. Walter Johnson hopes the signing means Kansas City\u2019s offense is poised to evolve.<\/p>\n

“I do want to see that running game go, because I know that if the running game goes, then we’re going to start to be able to have those deep passes again \u2014 not two or three per game, but maybe four or five or six per game \u2014 because the linebackers are going to have to step up first,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce they make that first step up, then we’re going downfield.”<\/p>\n

James Nelsen, a 15-year season ticket member from Booneville, Iowa, also zeroed in on Walker\u2019s addition.<\/p>\n

“We were big (Isiah) Pacheco fans \u2014 love his attitude, love the way he runs \u2014 but pretty excited to see what Walker can do this year,\u201d Nelsen said.<\/p>\n

Optimism about a return to the playoffs ran understandably high.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ve got a shot,\u201d Nelsen said. “They\u2019ve always got a shot when you\u2019ve got Mahomes, depending on how he comes back from injury, but I think they’ve always got a shot with him at QB.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mahomes<\/p>\n

Andrae Hannon\/KSHB 41<\/p>\n

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at training camp in St. Joseph.<\/p>\n

On-field optimism aside, several season ticket members also expressed concern about future ticket prices with Nelsen worried about the impact personal seat licenses at a new stadium could have.<\/p>\n

RELATED | Chiefs release first renderings of $3B domed stadium in Kansas City, Kansas<\/a><\/p>\n

“Depending on what the seat licensing is, it might be cost prohibitive,\u201d Nelsen said. \u201cAnd (you might) allocate resources elsewhere that have been allocated to Chiefs tickets in the past. It really is a cost-benefit analysis depending on what the cost is, whether or not it’s worth having tickets to go to every game when maybe you can just get playoff tickets or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex Johnson shared that concern.<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

Andrae Hannon\/KSHB 41<\/p>\n

Alex Johnson, a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a worry,\u201d he said. \u201cRight now, we don’t have that concern, but with them (possibly) putting that extra tax on season ticket holders, it\u2019s going to make it kind of tough for people who\u2019ve been long tenured to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, Nelsen said he is not ready to look too far ahead.<\/p>\n

“I’m just enjoying Arrowhead and looking forward to the next four or five years there because I think it’s the greatest stadium in football,\u201d Nelson said.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 14<\/a> against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Before that, Kansas City plays three preseason games \u2014 all of which air on KSHB 41, including home games Aug. 15 against the Los Angeles Rams and Aug. 28 against the Seattle Seahawks.<\/p>\n

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

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