The temperature at GEHA Field in Kansas City was an abysmal -4 degrees when the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins kicked off last Saturday.
Factoring in the wind, temperatures dropped as low as -29 degrees during the game. The arctic conditions led to at least 69 fans seeking medical care, and 15 fans were hospitalized, according to the Kansas City FIre Department.
Emergency services report that nearly 50% of the fans contacted were experiencing symptoms of hypothermia due to the cold conditions. Seven of the fans taken to the hospital were suffering from hypothermia, five from frostbite, and the remainder were suffering from undisclosed ailments.
“At this time, we are awaiting approval from The Kansas City Chiefs to release the numbers of patients treated at the seven aid stations at the stadium, and the various types of conditions treated,” a press release from the University of Kansas Health System reads. “The Emergency Department at The University of Kansas Health System continues to see patients for weather-related problems.”
Throughout the region, emergency services report that 59 people have been treated for weather-related conditions including hypothermia, heart attacks from exertion, and car accidents. Eight have been hospitalized. According to the press release, an additional nine patients have been admitted to the Burnett Burn Center with frostbite injuries.
The storm that swept across the midwest and northeast over the weekend resulted in the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers game being rescheduled to Monday after freezing and snowy conditions were determined to be too great of a risk to fans attending the game. Temperatures were in the mid- to low-20s. There have not been reports of weather-related hospitalizations from that game.
The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Miami Dolphins in the freezing temperatures to book a trip to Orchard Park where they will face the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. Weather conditions are expected to be much improved over last weekend. Buffalo received nearly two feet of snow, and fans could be seen throwing snowballs every time the Bills scored. The organization even asked fans to bring snow shovels to help clear the stands ahead of the game.
The coldest NFL game on record was the 1967 NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. The game is known as the Ice Bowl. The Packers emerged victorious from the game which recorded temperatures as low as -48. The Cowboys rematched the Packers for the Wild Card game this season but could not pull out a win despite much more hospitable conditions inside AT&T Stadium.
