Kansas City turns red on a Chiefs Sunday, and the Power and Light District downtown is where the city watches together under a giant video wall. Beyond the communal core, the metro holds screen heavy saloons, a sports museum you can drink in, and neighborhood classics with patios and watch party rooms. These ten cover Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC and college days, with the sound on for the home team.
Power & Light: The Communal Heart
Downtown's entertainment district is the default for a big Chiefs game, with a giant outdoor screen, a sea of red, and sports bars packed around the courtyard.
01
McFadden's Sports Saloon
Power & Light50 screens400 capacity
The anchor of the Power and Light sports bar scene, McFadden's runs 50 screens across a 400 person venue with a party atmosphere and DJ on the biggest game days. It is the loud, central, all in room for a Chiefs Sunday, steps from the district's outdoor stage and video wall, and it scales up for a playoff or Super Bowl crowd.
Game day tip: Get in early on a Chiefs game day, when the 50 screen room fills fast for the red sea.
02
KC Live!
Power & LightGiant video wallWatch parties
The covered KC Live! block at the center of the Power and Light District is where the city watches together, with a large video screen, beer stands and bars and restaurants ringing the courtyard. It hosts the official watch parties that flood the streets in red, and it is the closest thing to a stadium crowd without a ticket.
Game day tip: Arrive well before kickoff for a Chiefs playoff watch party, when the courtyard packs out.
03
Johnny's Tavern
Power & LightCourtyard screenOutdoor tables
A Power and Light District mainstay, Johnny's pairs a full tavern menu with outdoor tables that look across the courtyard to the big screen at the other end. It gives you the communal district atmosphere with your own table and service, which suits a group that wants the crowd without standing for three hours.
Game day tip: Grab a courtyard table for the view of the district's big screen across the way.
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Screen Counts and a Sports Museum
For sheer screen volume or a room full of memorabilia, these venues build the whole experience around the game.
04
Ugly Joe's
South KC30+ big screens96-inch TVs
In South Kansas City, Ugly Joe's displays more than 30 high definition big screens, including several 96 inch sets, so the game follows you across the room. It is a screen first neighborhood sports bar away from the downtown crowds, which makes it a reliable pick when Power and Light is at capacity.
Game day tip: Head south of downtown for the 96 inch screens when the district is too packed.
05
Gael's Public House
UMKC area26 screensThree bars
Set in a 100 year old building near UMKC and Rockhurst University, Gael's touts 26 television screens, three full service bars and a hearty menu. The student and neighborhood mix gives it energy on a college game day as well as a Chiefs Sunday, and the three bars keep the lines moving when it fills.
Game day tip: Good for a college game day near campus, with 26 screens and three bars to spread the crowd.
06
Chappell's Restaurant & Sports Museum
North KCSports museumMemorabilia
A North Kansas City institution where you watch the game surrounded by a world famous collection of sports memorabilia covering every wall and ceiling. It is as much a museum as a bar, so it rewards arriving early to take in the collection before the screens take over for kickoff.
Game day tip: Come early to walk the memorabilia collection before the game starts.
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Neighborhood Classics and Watch Parties
Away from downtown, these long running rooms and group friendly spots handle a relaxed watch or a reserved watch party.
07
The Peanut
MidtownOldest barFamous wings
KC's oldest bar and grill on Main Street, The Peanut is the no frills classic for a game and a basket of wings ordered extra crispy. The happy hour and the unpretentious room make it a local favorite that has watched decades of Kansas City sports without losing its character.
Game day tip: Order the wings extra crispy and use the happy hour for an afternoon game.
08
Tanner's Bar & Grill
Metro-wideSince 1985Cold beer
A Kansas City staple since 1985 with locations across the metro, Tanner's keeps the formula friendly service, tasty food and ice cold beer that has kept it a reliable game day room for decades. With a branch in most parts of town, it is the dependable neighborhood option wherever you are watching.
Game day tip: Find your nearest branch for a no fuss neighborhood watch with cold beer.
09
Brooksider
BrooksidePatio screensNeighborhood
A Brookside neighborhood mainstay with no shortage of screen space, the Brooksider is at its best on a patio game day when the weather cooperates. It draws a loyal local crowd and handles Chiefs, Royals and college games with an easy neighborhood feel rather than a downtown crush.
Game day tip: Aim for the patio on a fair weather game day, with screens out there too.
10
The Granfalloon
Country Club PlazaWatch-party roomsGroup friendly
A Country Club Plaza classic with plenty of room to host a watch party, the Granfalloon lets you reserve a room for a group so you are not fighting for a table on a big game day. The Plaza location and the bookable space make it the organized choice for a Chiefs playoff gathering with friends.
Game day tip: Reserve a room ahead for a playoff or Super Bowl watch party with a group.
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Game Day Questions
Where is the best place to watch the Chiefs in Kansas City?
The Power and Light District downtown is the communal heart, with the KC Live! video wall hosting official watch parties and McFadden's Sports Saloon running 50 screens steps away. Both turn a Chiefs game into a sea of red.
Which Kansas City bar has the most screens?
McFadden's Sports Saloon in Power and Light runs 50 screens, Ugly Joe's in South KC has more than 30 including several 96 inch sets, and Gael's Public House near UMKC touts 26 screens across three bars.
Where can I host a Chiefs watch party?
The Granfalloon on the Country Club Plaza lets you reserve a room for a group, and Chicken N Pickle locations around the metro will set up a private viewing room on request.
Where do I watch the game away from the downtown crowds?
Ugly Joe's in South KC, the Brooksider in Brookside and Tanner's branches across the metro all offer a neighborhood watch with plenty of screens when Power and Light is at capacity.
Our Verdict on Game Day in Kansas City
Kansas City watches the Chiefs together. For the full communal experience, the Power and Light trio of KC Live!, McFadden's and Johnny's Tavern put you in the red sea. For screen counts away from the crush, Ugly Joe's and Gael's deliver, and Chappell's adds a museum to the bargain. For a group, book a room at the Granfalloon. The thread across all ten is a city that treats a kickoff as a reason to gather, loudly, in red.