Fans responded to the Chiefs' five straight wins to open the season with increased ticket and merchandise salesGETTY IMAGES
The Chiefs' business staff are "busy capitalizing on all the early success this season," as the team's 5-1 start has their business metrics "soaring," according to James Dornbrook of the K.C. BUSINESS JOURNAL. Ticket sales are up, with attendance at Arrowhead Stadium "surpassing 75,000 for the two home games so far." Chiefs President Mark Donovan said the team also is seeing a "significant increase in group sales and single-game sales." Dornbrook noted the Chiefs have experienced "massive growth in their social media metrics." Last week, the Chiefs were first in the NFL in "growth of Instagram and Facebook followers and second on Twitter." Those fans are also "highly interactive on social media, with the Chiefs ranking first on Facebook, second on Twitter and third on Instagram." Jersey sales also are "strengthening." Last year, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes "ranked 75th in the league in jersey sales, but he’s third right now." Mahomes' popularity, combined with the "huge growth in fan interest, has the Chiefs inundated with requests for partnerships." However, Mahomes has been "turning down most requests and has done only five sponsorship deals: CommunityAmerica Credit Union; The University of Kansas Health System; Tickets For Less; Executive AirShare; and a community engagement event for Coca-Cola." Donovan: "We’re going to do very few things with Patrick and ask for very limited things. I’ve been getting more asks, and Patrick and his people have been getting more asks from people who want to leverage the success and take advantage of it right now" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/11).
