Travis Kelce could also be appearing on stage at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, however that’s not the one method the Kansas City Chiefs are leaning into romance. The NFL and the Missouri group will associate with Hallmark for “Vacation Landing: A Chiefs Love Story,” a brand new film set to air throughout the fifteenth annual Countdown to Christmas occasion this yr.
Tyler Hynes, Hunter King and Ed Begley Jr. will star within the unique film, with manufacturing kicking off subsequent month. It should movie completely in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, changing into the primary Hallmark manufacturing to movie on the GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium.
“With Hallmark and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs each homegrown, rooted in values, custom and neighborhood, there’s a particular alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” mentioned Hallmark chief model officer Darren Abbott. “By mixing the heat of Hallmark storytelling with the thrill {of professional} soccer, we’re thrilled to offer audiences a front-row seat to this neighborhood’s spirit, wealthy traditions and passionate followers that outline Kansas Metropolis, all wrapped up within the comforting and uplifting Hallmark method.”
This marks the second time the channel has teamed up with the NFL group; they celebrated the playoff season with a campaign titled “‘Tis the Preseason.” A part of the marketing campaign was a trailer for a spoof film titled “Falling for Soccer,” starring Hynes and Janel Parrish — her character hates soccer after being left on the altar for a playoff recreation, whereas he works on the Chiefs’ merchandise retailer. Donna Kelce and Chiefs gamers Trey Smith and Tommy Townsend appeared, and many Taylor Swift nods were made.
“We’re honored to associate with Hallmark on a mission as distinctive as this,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan mentioned on June 24. “As a membership, we delight ourselves on exploring new methods to develop our model, in addition to join with new audiences. This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and provides us a chance to point out Chiefs Kingdom’s power and custom on one of many most-watched channels throughout the vacation season.”
Right here is the movie’s official logline: “Alana Higman (King) is bound that her household’s lifelong historical past as Kansas Metropolis Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the group’s ‘Fan of the 12 months’ contest. Derrick (Hynes), Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her household stack up towards the opposite two finalists. Because the pair spends time collectively, it’s clear there’s a spark between them however when her grandfather’s (Begley Jr.) classic Chiefs, good luck winter hat goes lacking, Alana begins to doubt every little thing she believed about destiny, future and even questions her future with Derrick – except, that’s, somewhat Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.” (Will it make Selection‘s top Hallmark movies ever list? To be decided.)
Along with the film, the collaboration will function game-day activations, co-branded merchandise and digital promotion. Skydance Sports activities will govt produce, as a part of a newly shaped enterprise between Skydance Media and the NFL.
Starting on Tuesday evening at sundown, Kansas Metropolis’s downtown skyline shall be lit purple and purple to honor the collaboration between Hallmark and the Chiefs.
In line with Hallmark, greater than 50% of channel’s viewers additionally watched sports activities whereas the Countdown to Christmas was on air in 2023. The fanbase has a substantial amount of crossover, one thing that Hynes was significantly desirous about.
“I really feel like there’s a little bit of a mirror picture with that particular fandom and Hallmark Channel,” he informed Selection of the partnership in January. “I believe there’s a little bit of a crossover and there’s a mixture of that viewers that’s into being very passionate and honest of their healthful pursuit of leisure and being impressed by whether or not it’s athletes or a pleasant story. It feels prefer it’s all a part of the identical universe.”
It additionally gave him two new pursuits. “Soccer and Taylor Swift are new issues to me. I grew up with out the cash to afford organized sports activities and was a skateboarder, however going to Kansas, the parents who had been taking good care of us there — the entire PR group, everybody — I used to be genuinely moved and touched by this complete expertise and the way candy these folks had been,” he mentioned. “They gave us jerseys with our names on them. And it was actually, actually stunning. I went residence and began watching the Netflix documentary collection, quick forwarding to all of Patrick Mahomes’ components.”
