Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com 'Holiday Touchdown'
The left image shows Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan during a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs, 2024 Super Bowl champions at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2024. The right image shows a brown Christmas gift box with a blank tag on rustic wooden table.
The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing together what the holidays are all about: football and Hallmark movies.
The NFL team has partnered with Hallmark to create an original holiday film centered around its back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
The movie, called "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story," will begin production next month, filming entirely in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans will watch scenes at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time a movie has been shot in the venue.
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"This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom's energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release.
To honor the project between the two Kansas City-based organizations, the city lit up its downtown skyline purple and red on Wednesday night, the news release shared.
Who will be in 'Holiday Touchdown'?
While no Chiefs players have been announced to be in the movie, the team revealed its three leads.
The film will star "Shifting Gears" actor Tyler Hynes, "Two Scoops Of Italy" actor Hunter King, and "Better Call Saul" actor Ed Begley Jr. in the sports holiday romantic comedy.
What is 'Holiday Touchdown' about?
"Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story" will follow Chiefs super fan Alana Higman (King), who's determined to win the team's Fan of the Year contest, and fan engagement director Derrick (Hynes). The two begin to feel romantic tension as Derrick evaluates whether Alana's family deserves to the win the contest.
But when Alana's grandfather (Begley Jr.) loses his vintage Chiefs winter hat, she begins to question her future with Derrick unless "a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary."
50% of Hallmark viewers watch sports during the holidays
While the collaboration may seem odd, the Chiefs and Hallmark are assured that the movie makes the perfect holiday crossover.
More than half of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched sports during the channel's Countdown to Christmas aired last year in 2023, according to the news release.
"With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations," Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. "By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community's spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com 'Holiday Touchdown'