Kansas City Chiefs sports bar nestled in South Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Metropolis of Brotherly Love is understood for having diehard Eagles followers, however there are additionally some Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers dwelling amongst us. 

The group of Chiefs followers meet at Huge Charlie’s Saloon in South Philadelphia. 

However how did a South Philadelphia bar flip right into a haven for Chiefs supporters. 

The story begins greater than 50 years in the past when the bar proprietor’s father positioned a wager on the Chiefs to win the 1970 Tremendous Bowl. He instructed his son that if the Chiefs gained, he’d purchase him a brand new bike.

That is precisely what occurred and Paul, the proprietor, by no means forgot what his father acquired him. So when he took over the bar in 1983, he determined to show it right into a Chiefs sanctuary within the coronary heart of Eagles nation. 

“It is a metropolis of Eagles, however it is a nook of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs,” Chiefs fan Michael Puggi mentioned. 

On the nook of eleventh and McKean Streets sits Huge Charlie’s Saloon, a South Philly sports activities bar with an unabashed Kansas Metropolis bias.

“We simply go by the Chiefs. We’re not frightened about another workforce. We’re Chiefs, and that is it,” Puggi mentioned. 

For 40 years, Huge Charlie’s has been a secure haven for Chiefs followers in South Philly.

What began with 10 Chiefs diehards has grown to about 150 common followers. To not point out the 1000’s who’ve visited from out of city over time. 

“Now we have individuals from Baltimore, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, they usually simply come as a result of they wish to be Chiefs. They wish to watch the sport with us,” Puggi mentioned. 

It is onerous responsible them. Response contained in the sports activities bar confirmed out excited they had been on the game-winning Kansas Metropolis kick to ship their squad again to the Tremendous Bowl for the third time in 4 years. 

“It is unbelievable. It is electrifying. They’re actually loopy. They’re insane. They’re screaming, it doesn’t matter what’s happening,” supervisor Laura Sessa mentioned. 

However, for these followers, this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl will undoubtedly be completely different as a result of in an effort to seize the Lombardi trophy, they’re going to should defeat the workforce they have been not directly avoiding for many years.

“They’ve the higher workforce, however I feel we acquired one of the best participant. , we’re gonna see what Andy Reid can do with per week off and take it from there,” Puggi added. 

The previous two occasions the Chiefs have made it to the Tremendous Bowl, Huge Charlie’s has thrown a giant block celebration with TVs outdoors, a DJ and fireworks. 

This 12 months, they’ve determined to dial again the celebration out of respect for town and all of the Eagles followers within the neighborhood. 

They’re planning on internet hosting a personal celebration with about 60 to 80 regulars all inside. 

Win or lose, they’re going to be right here cheering on their Chiefs inside enemy territory.