Kansas City Royals Baseball

The Kansas City Royals Baseball This year, not only does spring signal the return of our beloved boys in blue (Yes, we love them regardless of the stats at the end of each season.), but it also brings a new home, a new point of community pride, a new place to explore and share. Our Kauffman Stadium will be revealed to the fans on Opening Day, April 10th, 2009.

There’s a whole new meaning to “Opening Day at The K”! Beginning this year, every visit to the stadium will be a 360 degree feast for the senses.

See the field the second you step past the gates--new wider entry ways. See every play with monitors placed on the concourses and at the Lil’ K. See the history of Kansas City baseball at the new Hall of Fame building with changing exhibits. See the Kansas City Royals pitchers warming up from some of the new seating.

Smell the air. Smell the fresh paint. Smell the sunscreen--lots of new seating (and standing room only) options in the outfield and a party deck--not sure about the shade situation, yet.

Hear the roar of Kansas City Royals fans. Hear the crack of the bat. Hear the pwfut, pwfut of Sluggerrr’s t-shirt launcher. Hear the laughter of a new generation of fans at the expander Lil’ K area, a youth size field, speed pitch and batting cages and a carousel featuring Sluggerrr.

Feel the texture of the bronze sculptures, of those important to our Kansas City Royals history, along the new walk of fame. Feel the touch screens, knobs and handles of the interactive displays in the Hall of Fame. Feel the dirt and grass during every Sunday’s “Fun Run” around the bases.

Most importantly, feel the excitement of being part of such an awesome community.

KC Royals 40th Anniversary and Stadium update.

I’m posting this on April 5th, 2009. Today was the “official” unveiling of the Kauffman Stadium makeover during a free open house. It also happened to be a very January sort of April day.

The weather was more suited for a Kansas City Chiefs game, than a day at the baseball park. The winds were out of the north-west at 30mph, with gusts upwards of 40-45 mph. It was cold, cloudy, rainy, snowy and just plain miserable. One thing made it bearable…

IT’S BASEBALL SEASON!!!!! Regardless, of the snowflakes, it’s time for our very own boys of summer, The Kansas City Royals, to take the field and lead us into hot, lazy days of summer-time memory making events.

I truly believe that not only because of the Royals Stadium makeover, but because of much of the Kansas City Royals personnel makeover, and our community’s attitude makeover (we’ve ALWAYS taken great pride in having one of the most beautiful stadiums in the major leagues…but, it’s been a loooong, hard road during this team and stadium transformation) this really is going to be a season of major league memories---made right here in KC.

On to the review…I’ll get right to the point, the Kansas City Royals Stadium is not only absolutely stunning, but it is also a complete entertainment venue!

I’ve never seen so many video screens and flat screen monitors. They are everywhere. No matter what direction you are facing the field from, you are going to be able to see multiple screens showing everything that’s going on.

If you are in one of the new facilities, be it the kid’s zone, Rivals Sports Bar, or even in line at one of the fab new concession stands, you will still be able to see every play on a nearby screen.

I think the only thing that rivals the number of video screens is the number of food and beverage stations. It felt as though there was a “bar” everywhere you turned. Really nice for the grown-ups that partake.

The food selection is all over the map. Rivals Sports Bar is a nice sit-down meal option. The concession stands range from classic park fare to Mexican, to KC Barbeque (sadly, it doesn't appear to be Gate's anymore)--of course. We tried the hot wing sauced chicken bites and fries, along with the fish and chips. Both items were really good.

Have to say though, the concession stand prices are even worse than they already were. I don’t really know what else to say. Except, when budgetary concerns are present, please try one of the eight scheduled Kansas City Royals Buck Nights--they’re the only time you’ll get any type of value for your hard earned dollars.

The kids’ zone provides a “wow” factor. You’ll never get those little ones in their seats now. They can run the bases at a Kansas City Royals pint size diamond, pitch, bat, play mini golf, ride a carousel, even shop in a store made just for them (and grandparents’ with deep pockets.)

I have to admit that I am a little disappointed that all the t’s haven’t been crossed and the i’s haven’t been dotted by the Royals. The transformation will continue well into the season.

Most notably, the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame will not open until July. I personally found this to be very disappointing.

Oddly enough, there weren’t any souvenir shops or stands open, except the children’s shop in the outfield. We asked an usher about it, and he said they just weren’t ready. I’m sure they will be by opening day--they can’t miss out on another major sales opportunity, like they did today.

There is a tremendous amount of landscaping to be done. For now it tends to make for a very messy, muddy walk around the perimeter, with even the slightest precipitation.

One issue that I took as a major oversight was the huge need for, at the very least, a fresh coat of paint on the parking lot booths. It may sound silly, but it was sort of like going to a big, beautiful mansion, but when you got to the front door it had an aluminum screen door hanging halfway off it’s hinges and showing obvious signs that the neighbor’s cat really wanted in. Maybe there are plans to replace them in the near future, but in the mean time paint is cheap.

Sorry for the little run of negatives there. Ultimately, no one can say that the new Kauffman Stadium is anything but an amazing jewel for our home town.

Check out these pics to get a taste of what you’ll experience this baseball season.