IN THE GRIPS of a polar vortex in Kansas City last winter, Matthew Maddux received an offer the lifelong Chiefs fan couldn't refuse: one free ticket to join his buddy for the wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins. The forecast called for dangerously cold weather, so Maddux did everything he could to prepare. He put on ski gear, layers of sweatshirts, boots, a scarf, hat and a pair of thick gloves. He even bought electric hand warmers online. Maddux sat in the upper bowl, vacillating between elation and misery.
Wind chills reached minus 27, and the air temperature dipped to 4 below zero as the Kansas City Chiefs won 26-7.