KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Community Blood Center (CBC) and the Kansas City Chiefs have officially launched the 28th Annual Chiefs Week, a long-standing Kansas City tradition that rallies fans to roll up their sleeves and donate blood ahead of one of the most challenging times of the year for the blood supply.
The celebration begins with a kickoff blood drive at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, November 20, where fans will have the chance to donate inside one of the most iconic venues in football. The Chiefs have already helped collect more than 1,300 blood donations at the stadium over the years, and this season they’re calling on fans to add another 250 donations to that total.
As part of Chiefs Week, from November 20–30, every donor who gives at a CBC donor center or mobile drive will receive a limited-edition Chiefs t-shirt and be automatically entered for a chance to win Chiefs tickets.
“We look forward to Chiefs Week every year,” said Chelsea Tibbetts, Vice President of Regional Operations at Community Blood Center. “The Chiefs have been an invaluable partner for decades, especially heading into the holiday season, which is often one of the toughest periods for blood collection.”
Although the local blood supply is starting to stabilize, it hasn’t fully recovered after an unexpectedly slow fall, which is typically one of the strongest periods for donations. And with Thanksgiving approaching, CBC is bracing for another sharp drop in donations.
Last year, CBC saw nearly a 32% decline during Thanksgiving week alone.
Right now, the region has only a 4-day supply of blood on hand, well short of the ideal 7-day inventory needed to ensure hospitals can respond quickly to emergencies. Type O, the universal type used heavily in trauma and emergency care, has just a 3-day supply.
CBC and the Chiefs are urging fans to donate before and after Thanksgiving to help prevent another holiday-week shortage.
Arrowhead Stadium Blood Drive Details
- WHEN: Thursday, November 20, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
- WHERE: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Tower Club
*Enter through the Tower Gate (south side of the stadium). Free parking available in Lot E. - WHO CAN DONATE: All eligible blood donors. CBC staff and Chiefs representatives will be onsite.
- WHY DONATE: One hour of your time can save multiple lives. Blood transfusions support cancer patients, trauma victims, newborns and mothers, transplant recipients, and many others who depend on a steady, reliable blood supply.
Appointments are strongly encouraged. Donors can schedule a visit at: savealifenow.org/ChiefsBloodDrive
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. With recent updates to FDA guidelines, more people than ever may now be eligible to donate. For details, visit savealifenow.org or call 800-688-0900.