Kansas City teammates come together to cheer on their favorite football team
Teammates and customers at Kansas City-area Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships had a lot to talk about the last Monday of January. While many were bustling around the dealership taking test drives, completing routine warranty service or ordering parts, there was only one thing truly on their minds – the Kansas City Chiefs.
And for good reason, as the city’s beloved professional football team had just claimed a dramatic 23-20 league championship victory over the Cincinnati Bengals the night before. A team who seemed to have KCs number in recent years, as they had won the previous three matchups including the 2022 league title game.
“It was a relief,” said Jeff Geyer, sales manager for Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North. “That was a frustrating game with a lot of ups and downs. With our recent history, we were just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Happily, for Geyer and the local fan base, the only actual shoe to drop was off the foot of Harrison Butker as his game-winning field goal sent Kansas City to an impressive third “Big Game” appearance since 2020. The much-anticipated result came after a week of matchup questions in the media and pre-game banter from the fans.
“There was a lot of tension in the air because Cincinnati had beaten us and knocked us out last year,” said Robert Rodriquez, salesperson at Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission, a long-time fan for more than 30 years. “There were a lot of (Cincinnati) fans that came into town, and they did a lot of talking.”
“You could tell there was a lot of determination (with the players) to not let them beat us again,” said Sarabeth Hendrich, Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission sales supervisor. “The fans were determined and the players were determined. It was not going to happen again.”
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BUILDING COMMRADERY THROUGHOUT THE DEALERSHIPS
Sharing the fan experience with teammates and customers makes for more than a few enjoyable Monday morning quarterbacking sessions. Those relationships bring the teams together throughout the area’s five Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships, often setting an upbeat tone for the week ahead with talk about the previous week’s game.
“I like the different ideas that the (service) techs have and how everyone sees the game differently,” said Pete Clay, who is the parts counterperson for Hendrick Lexus Kansas City.
“Not that we don’t already have a lot to talk about, but it gives us a binding force that helps keep us together,” Derochie said. “The same goes (for) all of our teammates and the community. For example, we have “Red Friday” (where) everyone is in (team) gear. It’s almost like a Christmastime vibe where there’s so much going on and we call get to participate together.”
“They (the team) brings everyone together in the dealership,” Geyer said. “It doesn’t matter where you work or what department you are in, we’re all fans and we are together. We are together as one, and it really reflects our values being a part of the Hendrick Automotive Group family.”
A LONG-STANDING FANDOM
For many Hendrick Automotive Group teammates, their fandom runs deep. Hendrick Lexus Kansas City business manager Jimmy Allen has been a diehard fan since 1972, and still fondly recalls his first game on Oct. 16, 1983 against the New York Giants - Kansas City won 38-17. A similar story for Ramon Conway, Hendrick Lexus Kansas City service advisor, whose grandfather purchased a team football for him in first grade, creating a bond with the local team that only grew after attending his inaugural game as well.
“Unfortunately I was not able to make my first trip to Arrowhead Stadium until I was 16 years old,” Conway recalls. “But I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. It started raining (and) a lot of people were putting on ponchos. My little brother and (I) were taking our shirts off and yelling as loud as we could.”
Amazingly, the Conways have another special moment awaiting during their family’s “Big Game” party during this Sunday’s game.
“Got some great news,” Conway said. “My brother that serves in the Army, (who) I have not seen face-to-face in over seven years, will be also coming. It’s going to be great.”
Halee Shull, customer service manager and program coordinator at Hendrick Lexus Kansas City, has also enjoyed meaningful family moments around football, “I have been a fan my whole life. My parents grew up KC fans and my grandpa had season tickets at the 50-yard line. We were able to go to quite a few games.”
Being a Kansas City fan has been a longstanding right of passage for many living in the area. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to current day superstars, this committed fan base has been on a roller coaster of seasonal success throughout the years.
“I grew up in a small town southeast of here,” Hendrich said. “We picked up Springfield (Mo.) and Kansas City stations. We lived right in between the two of them. When there was a home game blacked out on the KC stations, we would watch the games on the Springfield stations. (When) My father thought there was better games to watch (at the time), so we didn’t have to watch them lose, my mom refused to turn the channel.”
The distance was even further for Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission sales manager Corey Derochie to stay connected with his favorite team, “I’m from four and a half hours north of here in Sioux City, Iowa,” Derochie said. “We had season tickets for (more than) 25 years, and we would drive down every week to go to the game.”
2020 WAS VERY MEANINGFUL
Kansas City is making their third Big Game appearance in the last four years, highlighted by their first championship since 1969 when they defeated San Francisco in 2020. A truly special moment for fans who – many of which – had never tasted “the sweet nectar” of a title before that moment.
“I was very emotional after the 2020 championship,” Shull remembered. “It had been 50 years since we had been to one and it was the first one I was able to experience.”
It was also a meaningful for Geyer, who became a fan in the 1980s, “Having never seen anything like that before, it was incredibly special to experience what it was like. They had to come back and win that one. It was pure joy. I even went down to the experience the game winning parade. It was incredible.”
Will 2023 be a repeat of 2020? These fans would like to think so.
“We have the best quarterback, he has set the standard,” said Jacob Castro, a salesperson with Hendrick Lexus Kansas City. “When he plays, we have a chance in any game.”
“I love Kansas City in this one,” said Corey Goff, F&I sales manager for Hendrick Lexus Kansas City North. “They haven’t faced an offensive line like ours. Could be a 28-24 type of game. It will be a battle, a great game.”
While there was a little more reservation from others.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Derochie said.
No matter the outcome, these diehards will be rooting hard for their hometown favorite on Sunday evening.
“Kansas City backs its (team) like big-time college football programs are backed by their alumni,” Allen said. “The city is the team and the team is the city.”
Shop for your next car, truck or SUV at these Kansas City-area Hendrick Automotive Group locations: HENDRICK TOYOTA MERRIAM I BMW of KANSAS CITY SOUTH I HENDRICK CHEVROLET SHAWNEE MISSION I HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY I HENDRICK LEXUS KANSAS CITY NORTH
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