ChiefsPlanet Mobile
Page 9 of 11
« First < 56789 1011 >
Nzoner's Game Room>Joe Delaney - I-435 & BBQ Contest Projects **6/29 I-435 Project Accomplished!**
AJKCFAN 05:45 PM 02-15-2021
Originally Posted by Hammock Parties:
Just went out there myself. Looking good!



Originally Posted by AJKCFAN:
344 days ago, first contact was made with the Missouri Department of Transportation with this idea to have a highway dedication to honor Joe Delaney. There were times when it was understandably tedious and exasperating but this was going to be pursued as long as the obstacles were to be overcome.

The early support came from local Jackson County Missouri State Representative Yolanda Young and her team who supported this project immediately. This required the support of the Delaney family themselves and between his widow Carolyn and daughters (particularly Joanna and Crystal) they gave us their unwavering support and backed it up by providing MODOT with their consent for the project, as well as Joe's death certificate which was also required. They put their faith in me and these efforts and it will never be forgotten.

From there, 2 things remained - cost of project (which one of our own reached into their pocket and doled out more than $3,000 to cover for the ENTIRE cost of the signs). The appropriate word to you is grateful. Grateful for your support and grateful to make this endeavor an easier task to complete. May you appreciate the fruits of your investment for these next 20 years!

Lastly but far from least, to obtain 100 signatures from local Kansas Citians in the midst of a worldwide pandemic was daunting from the get-go but there was Clay - recruiting signatures with his social media clout and going about it with the mindset that he was not going to be denied. I don't know how to ever properly thank him, but this does not result in signs if not for his herculean efforts. Yes, there was considerable help from the Kansas City Star with their ipetitions to also make this happen, but there is no completion of this project if not for Clay being the rock star that he is and absolutely taking care of this - and us obtaining the necessary relevant signatures in just over 1 weeks time.

Those signatures include quite a few Chiefs Planeteers so feel a source of pride every time you pass I-435 between Exits 66 and Exit 63C and you see them signs for the next two decades.

I obviously want to renew these signs when the term expires in 2041, but if I am not around to see that happen - then it is my sincere hope my Kansas Citian friends made throughout this experience will pick up the mantle and keep these signs up.

I'm so humbled and moved that tens of thousands of Chiefs fans will be driving to and from Arrowhead via I-435 and it means the world to see Joe Delaney finally attain long-lasting recognition in Kansas City

37 Forever definitely played a small (yet significant) part in Kansas City Chiefs history

The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway on I-435 will play a small (yet also significant) part in Kansas City history

:-) :-) :-) Cheers Everybody - WE Did It!!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
Previous updates:
Spoiler!


Originally Posted by AJKCFAN:
Changing gears. Here is the latest in terms of the BBQ Contest. Attacking this hard these past several weeks. Really not to exaggerate, some 150 companies were reached out. Basically, there is some level of interest that need to be explored further and if work wasn't killing me, there would be a quicker follow-up so now that I-435 is out of the way, my efforts will be focused solely on this. Recently, there was a pretty significant company who has showed interest and they wanted to Zoom conference with me sometime this week. Observant of today's significance, intentionally I chose to have the conference today on the Anniversary. It did happen today and the takeaway from the meeting is that there appears to be a potential sponsor of the contest as they were very impressed with this idea and also helpful is that they have considerable experience working with The Kansas City Barbeque Society so that works in our favor. Likely, a second Zoom Conference call is scheduled to occur next Thursday morning (July 8) and if all can somehow go well with this, we might just be able to pull this off.....

(oh yes, there is a secret code embedded in here with the above paragraph, so good luck finding it.....)

(No code for rest of message)
If it doesn't come to pass, I'll keep trying. There is some interest that I need to follow up with nine other companies, but this one I spoke with today can make this Joe Delaney BBQ Contest at Worlds of Fun a reality.

If it cannot be possible, I would still like to have a BBQ Contest but we are probably looking to scale it down further and seek to have it at a local BBQ restaurant, but I want to exhaust this option and this potential sponsor (and other interested parties) first before we need to cross this bridge.

To be continued

The other project is an even more exciting idea and although that too is realistic, there will need to be more “heavy lifting”.

If there are two things Kansas City is currently most well known for, what would it be?

I would say (and you would likely say also) it would be the Chiefs and BBQ.

Yes, the best tailgating in the NFL by far can be found at Arrowhead and there’s some incredible BBQ every home game there but how often has Arrowhead Stadium been a venue for an actual competitive BBQ Contest?

Not that often, which is somewhat shocking given Arrowhead’s reputation.

So I am attempting to “marry the two”.

What if there was a competitive BBQ contest to be held at Arrowhead Stadium, during Chiefs football season – all in the memory of Joe Delaney, who is easily among the most distinguished and revered Kansas City Chiefs players in its illustrious history?

2. The Joe Delaney Master Series Barbeque Contest

Here, during this past Chiefs football season, I have had not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Zoom Call conferences with the Chiefs organization and in conjunction with The Kansas City Barbeque Society, which is a not for profit BBQ contest organization which sponsors a tremendous amount of BBQ contests throughout the year not just in Kansas City, but throughout America.

Very late in the season, we received a proposal from the Chiefs to have the debut of this event to be held at Arrowhead (with options to continue the contest at Arrowhead for both the 2022 and 2023 seasons), with the target being in late October of this year (hopefully to coincide with Joe Delaney’s birth date) and them being flexible with the date to allow for it to coincide with a Chiefs home game as well (particularly if the Chiefs were playing a home game in Arrowhead on a Sunday Night or a Monday Night that weekend).

The issue with it right now is the cost of the contest to hold the debut of this event in Arrowhead Stadium is a staggering amount. In essence, sponsors are vital to have this contest occur – whether it is at Arrowhead or at a smaller venue to kick things off for this year. I do at least commend the Chiefs for being willing to hear out this idea and staying in contact with me over the football season and still maintaining close ties with me to this day.

Guess I will throw this out there:

Does anyone here have any connections or tie-ins with any potential sponsors because that is what would yield the best results to this event occurring.

It would be really awesome to have this dream event occur. I mean, a BBQ Contest to be held in Arrowhead Stadium during the football season, in a weekend where we can finish the festivities off with enjoying watching Mahomes and the Chiefs kicking somebody’s ass on national TV – and this contest being held to memorialize a heroic great late Chief like Joe Delaney, it doesn’t get any better than that.

That’s why I am coming to you today. I am going to need some help.

Football analogy. We have driven the ball down the field two times and we are in the Red Zone for both projects. Joe Delaney Memorial Highway is definitely in First & Goal status – we just need 100 signatures and we got this TD. Joe Delaney BBQ Contest, it feels like it is 2nd and makeable distance from inside the Red Zone. Maybe we will need to settle for a field goal with that and debut the contest at a smaller venue or maybe there is still reason to hope this can still find its way into the end zone too and we make the contest occur at Arrowhead this fall on a Saturday.

I’ll be happy to either discuss on this thread or privately any direct questions you may have.

Thank you very much in advance....

Adam (AJKCFAN)
[Reply]
Bugeater 08:40 PM 05-03-2021
:-) it figures as soon as I let it drop a huge update comes in. I'll stick it again for a few days so no one misses it.
[Reply]
Bugeater 08:52 PM 05-03-2021
Stickied and updated OP. Nice work everyone!
[Reply]
Renegade 11:34 AM 05-04-2021
This is really cool, thanks for all involved to make this a reality.

Just curious, and I really don't know the answer. Is there any section of MO roads that is labeled "DT" memorial highway?
[Reply]
AJKCFAN 12:15 PM 05-04-2021
Originally Posted by Renegade:
This is really cool, thanks for all involved to make this a reality.

Just curious, and I really don't know the answer. Is there any section of MO roads that is labeled "DT" memorial highway?
Good question - had to do some research.

Seems like there was an initial movement to rename a a piece of highway stretching east from Blue Ridge to Highway 291 the "Derrick Thomas Memorial Highway right after DT's death in 2000, but quick Google search uncovered this, so I don't think this ever got off the ground...

http://www.mdn.org/2000/STORIES/MOTO.HTM

At least the Third and Long Foundation survives, with Neil Smith taking the reins to keep it going for his former bestie...

https://www.thirdandlong.org/
[Reply]
luv 01:09 PM 05-04-2021
Originally Posted by Hammock Parties:
We did it!

This is awesome. We are on this stretch of highway every time we drive up for a game! Local news story:

https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-ne...VNbacfMnxci9Rw

Originally Posted by :
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Heading to a game at Arrowhead Stadium will soon hold even more meaning.

Missouri lawmakers approved a plan to honor the late Kansas City Chief, Joe Delaney.

A two-mile stretch of Interstate 435 from State Highway 350 to Raytown Road will be named Joe Delaney Memorial Highway.

Crews will eventually install two signs announcing the honor. One sign will be installed at each end of the route. It will take between six and nine weeks to make the signs, but it’s not yet known when they will be added to the highway.

Delaney was a running back and played two seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs.

He drowned on June 29, 1983, while trying to rescue three children from a pond in Louisiana. He saved the life of a boy, but the two other children died with him.

In 2020, 37 years after his death, a monument was dedicated in Delaney’s honor near the pond where he died.

[Reply]
HayWire 05:53 AM 05-05-2021
Good job guys. This is awesome.
[Reply]
gblowfish 12:20 PM 05-05-2021
Congratulations. Amazing that a barrel of monkeys like the CP can do some good in the world. Thank you guys for doing the legwork and making this a reality. Well done.
[Reply]
Easy 6 06:42 PM 05-05-2021
So richly deserved, incredible work by AJKC and everyone else capable of making it happen... he finally has a proper waterpark in his hometown and now this memorial

That guy is the single biggest reason I became a Chiefs fan, he deserves all of this
[Reply]
Huffmeister 07:33 PM 05-11-2021
Hell yeah, great work everyone!
[Reply]
Bugeater 12:52 PM 05-13-2021
Gonna let this one loose until there's any more updates.
[Reply]
Hammock Parties 05:10 PM 05-14-2021
Our fearless leader is on the pod tonight.

THIS WEEK in ��EPISODE 116��

We double up the guest booth with @610SportsKC host @3guysinagarage and creator of The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway @ajkcfan!! Stay tuned for a great show!! pic.twitter.com/KnGzGeXVUf

— �������� ������������!! ���������������� (@THESPOKENpod) May 14, 2021

[Reply]
Hammock Parties 10:26 PM 05-14-2021
Adam's segment on the podcast is segment 2 (starting at the 30 minute mark)


[Reply]
BigRedChief 09:38 AM 06-04-2021
I founded Arrowhead Kingdom this off season. Our goal is for every Chief fan to find their fellow Chief fans in their city or while visiting to enjoy this golden era of Chiefs football together. As of right now, Arrowhead Kingdom is 62 chapters of Chief fans in 31 states, also Puerto Rico and Mexico City. We are still not officially launched yet but here's what we are doing.........https://arrowheadkingdom.org/

As part of that effort we are doing a weekly podcast and what we are calling a "Chiefscast". We wanted to use our national platform to help get the word out about Joe Delaney and the charity BBQ competition. Adam gave us the exclusive on where the Master Series BBQ competition will be held this summer. It's a huge fun place. I will let Adam reveal that detail here or you can listen to the Chiefscast or podcast.

If you want the podcast version with Adam, we are on spotify, google and other podcast platforms. Here's a direct link to the podcast version..... https://anchor.fm/akchiefscast/episo...oX9mecGG9G-a-M



[Reply]
AJKCFAN 10:08 PM 06-06-2021
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
I founded Arrowhead Kingdom this off season. Our goal is for every Chief fan to find their fellow Chief fans in their city or while visiting to enjoy this golden era of Chiefs football together. As of right now, Arrowhead Kingdom is 62 chapters of Chief fans in 31 states, also Puerto Rico and Mexico City. We are still not officially launched yet but here's what we are doing.........https://arrowheadkingdom.org/

As part of that effort we are doing a weekly podcast and what we are calling a "Chiefscast". We wanted to use our national platform to help get the word out about Joe Delaney and the charity BBQ competition. Adam gave us the exclusive on where the Master Series BBQ competition will be held this summer. It's a huge fun place. I will let Adam reveal that detail here or you can listen to the Chiefscast or podcast.

If you want the podcast version with Adam, we are on spotify, google and other podcast platforms. Here's a direct link to the podcast version..... https://anchor.fm/akchiefscast/episo...oX9mecGG9G-a-M


Thanks again BigRedChief for the support and getting me in touch with Joshua for the podcast. It was such an honor to be on the ChiefsCast and to help give Arrowhead Kingdom get off to a promising start. You have something very successful and it's great you are seeing this through to the success it definitely will become!

I did reveal the location of the proposed (still not yet in contract) contest back in post #112. I intentionally wrote out a 3 paragraph response. If you take the first letter of each sentence you will see the name of the location.

First paragraph is
W-O-R-L-D-S

Second paragraph is
O-F

Third paragraph is
F-U-N

if the event cannot be held in Arrowhead, then Worlds of Fun is an ideal and as established an outdoor venue as one can realistically hope to find in the Kansas City area.

It's all about finding the right blend of sponsors and donors. Once that starts happening, then I will immediately sign off on their proposal. I fully expect to contribute financially to this worthy endeavor but this has to be something I cannot shoulder alone (the podcast mentions the cost - you can skip ahead to 1 hour, 14 minutes, 30 seconds of this podcast where the event is discussed in detail), so I am trying my hardest to get things done as I want so badly to fly out to Kansas City for that weekend.

Finally had time this weekend to start sending out e-mails. By my count, 70 companies were contacted and I easily still have over 100 more still to come. These companies who were contacted are sponsors of the Chiefs, Kansas City based companies or companies which would have some degree of relationship to a BBQ event. I still have more than 100 to go through. I have talked with the Chiefs and there may be something there - I'll know more in the coming days.

Have also reached out to ESPN, as they will cover the Monday Night Football game against the Giants. Not sure if he works there still, but Andy Tennant and I worked on a SportsCenter feature in 2003 when the Delaney Tragedy reached its 20 year anniversary. E-mailed him (it did not get rejected, so perhaps he still works there). Incidentally, both Steve Levy and Adam Schefter happen to have attended the same high school as I did, although both are several years older than me, but I reached out to them as well - hoping that their e-mails mimicked Mr. Tennant's.

Definitely contemplating reaching out to WHB this week to see what (if anything) can be done. Just think that the more this is publicized, the more likely it is for the desired sponsors and donors to step up.

Also have reached back to KSHB and KC Star this weekend. Both are for media purposes only.

I have also reached out to Northwestern State in Louisiana. That is Joe Delaney's alma mater. We worked well during the 37 Forever Foundation days and they were very happy to learn about The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway. I made it clear that I needed alumni help for the BBQ Contest, so we will see where that goes.

Finally, I need to get a list of all BBQ establishments in the KC area - I am of the belief that they are going to be integral to the success of this contest. I shall be asking KCBS for help with that.

Now if all these efforts are for naught and it doesn't happen, then it will be disappointing to pull the plug, but I can hold my head up high. Know that I am doing everything in my power to see this through.

And if it doesn't happen, well - it doesn't change at all The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway. That has been finalized and WILL HAPPEN. It is now just a matter of awaiting MoDOT to start getting those signs up on I-435.

Hope to have some good news to report shortly. My personal goal is that with the Tragedy Anniversary coming up later this month on June 29, I'd like to have an official announcement for the BBQ Contest to occur on that date (or before if we need that time to start planning....)

Wish me luck....
[Reply]
AJKCFAN 06:40 PM 06-14-2021
It is my humble and distinct honor to inform you that we have received official notification from MODOT and have been advised that the I-435 Joe Delaney Memorial Highway signs have been completed and they have been transferred to a MODOT facility location in Lee’s Summit.

We were told that the installation of these signs can go up as soon as this upcoming Thursday June 17.

However, with the Anniversary date of the Delaney Tragedy (June 29, 1983) occurring a little bit later in the month, I have requested and received permission from MODOT that installation be delayed until Tuesday June 29 so that it can fittingly coincide with commemorating the 38th Anniversary of this somber occasion.

There might even be a ceremony to mark the occasion but we are trying to see if the Delaney family can attend the event. At this point in time, it is unlikely that there will be a ceremony on such short notice. There does not need to really be one. Just if you happen to be in the area, drive by I-435 between Exit 66 (Missouri State Road 350) to Exit 63C (Raytown Road) in either direction come June 29 and you will see the signs installed.

Take pictures if you can!

Otherwise, if you cannot take the drive - I’m sure it will that day be part of the evening news, newspaper, etc.

It’s going up ladies and gentlemen!
[Reply]
Page 9 of 11
« First < 56789 1011 >
Up