KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Inside stadiums normally filled with fans, there was a different and more somber celebration of sorts Thursday night across Kansas City.
Sporting Kansas City, the Royals and the Chiefs along with other businesses and landmarks across the city joined together to Light it Blue for KC, a worldwide movement to show support for frontline workers in the COVID-19 fight.
"I can't say thank you enough for what the front line workers have done to help this community get through COVID-19," Royals Vice President of Publicity Toby Cook said.
Tailgater-less parking lots at the Truman Sports Complex and Children’s Mercy Park sit empty for now, the stadium gates locked and seats vacant as the country has come to a screeching halt to halt the deadly virus’ spread.
"We are where we are at this point and all we can do is look forward,” Sporting KC Executive Vice President of Communications Rob Thomson said. “There's nothing more important right now than these people, great people, out there doing unbelievable work and selfless"
The city’s professional sports franchises are used to being showered with cheers, but they are hoping Thursday’s gesture will let those helping care for the sick and infirm — the nurses, doctors, other health care workers, EMTs, firefighters and police — that they deserve the real cheers.
"It's a light in the darkness,” Cook said.
Thomson agreed, "Anything we can do to help them rally and show that they are loved and how respected they are. And I'm sure they're tired and weary and have given up so many sacrifices, and so that has not gone unnoticed by anyone."
Cook said it’s important “to remember these frontline workers right now who might be hitting a wall. I mean, I feel like I'm starting to hit that wall and I've got it a whole lot easier than most of them just being at home and not being in my routine."
