Kauffman Stadium

For more than 35 years Kauffman Stadium has been one of the best ballparks in baseball. When it opened in 1973 its design was unlike any other stadium built at the time. Major League Baseball came to Kansas City in 1955 when the Philadelphia Athletics moved to the city and Kansas City Municipal Stadium. Opening in 1923 and rebuilt when the A's moved to Kansas City, Municipal Stadium was not only home to baseball but the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL). Owner of the A's Charlie Finley wanted to relocate the team to Dallas in 1962 and Louisville in 1964 but was denied by American League owners. Finley wanted to relocate the team in part because Municipal Stadium was deteriorating. In 1966 the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority was established to acquire land, design, construct and get funding for a new stadium. Original plans were for a multipurpose stadium but these plans were scrapped because of design and seating capacity problems. Unlike many other cities that were building multipurpose stadiums at the time, the county decided to build two new stadiums, one for the A's and one for the Chiefs. In June 1967 a $102 million bond was issued for construction of two sports stadiums. However, A’s owner Charles Finley could not wait for a new stadium to be built and moved his team to Oakland in October 1967.

United States Senator Stuart Symington demanded a new franchise for Kansas City or he would introduce legislation to remove baseball's antitrust exemption. During baseball's winter meetings in 1967, MLB decided to expand by four teams that would begin playing in 1971. However, pressure from Symington and other officials led to MLB allowing the teams to begin play in 1969. Royals General Manager Cedric Tallis worked with HOK Sports and used the best parts of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium to incorporate into the new Royals stadium. Construction on the Truman Sports Complex that included the Royals stadium and the Chiefs stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, began on July 11, 1968.  Originally known as Royals Stadium, the Royals played their first game at the stadium on April 10, 1973. Royals Stadium was very colorful with 40,793 seats, all facing second base and arranged in three tiers with maroon, gold and orange seats. It was the American League's first ballpark with Astroturf as the playing surface. The most unique feature of the stadium were the water fountains beyond the outfield fence as Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains. The fountains stretch 322 feet horizontally and have a 10 foot high waterfall that descends from an upper cascade pool that serves as a background for two water fountain pools. A 12 story scoreboard, in the shape of the Royals' crest is located beyond the centerfield fence.

Until the 1990s there were few changes to the stadium. In 1990, a 30-by-40 foot Sony JumboTron video board was installed in left-center field. In 1993 Royals Stadium was renamed Kauffman Stadium in honor of Ewing Kauffman. The Astroturf was removed prior to the 1995 season and replaced with natural grass giving Kauffman Stadium a very intimate feel. Kauffman Stadium was renovated at the end of the 1998 season. The stadium renovation project included the addition of Crown Seats, Dugout Suites, new clubhouses and an exclusive restaurant and lounge known as the Crown Club. All of the orange seats throughout the stadium were replaced by blue seats.

In an effort to maintain its status as one of the best stadiums in the big leagues, the Royals announced in 2007 that they would embark on a two year, $256 million renovation to Kauffman Stadium. Phase I of the renovation project completed by Opening Day 2008 included new bullpens perpendicular to the field, expansion of the seating in the Crown Club and Dugout Suites, and a LED auxiliary LED scoreboard in the left field wall. The most apparent change was the replacement of the original crown scoreboard in centerfield with a new 150' by 40' high definition video/scoreboard. Renovation work continued on to the dugout level concourse, exterior work to widen concourses on all levels and on the outfield plaza to connect the entire ballpark. The renovation project was completed by Opening Day 2009. Additional improvements to Kauffman Stadium included new fountain view terrace seats in the outfield, widened concourses on all three levels and an outfield concourse that allows fans to walk 360 degrees around the stadium. There are a host of new attractions for fans to check out when visiting Royals Stadium. This includes a kids' area known as "the Little K," the Taste of KC, a right field sports bar themed restaurant, and the new Royals Hall of Fame in left field. Because of these renovations, Kauffman Stadium's seating capacity is now 38,177.

Today, fans from Missouri, Kansas and other states come to Kauffman Stadium to enjoy Kansas City Royals baseball, views of the fountains beyond the outfield fence and views of the Midwest landscape. Plentiful parking surrounds the stadium and fans can enter Kauffman Stadium through many locations. Once inside, circular ramps and escalators take fans to the club and upper levels. Upon entering, fans are on the main concourse of the stadium. To access the field and dugout box seats fans must either walk through the dugout or field plaza seats or go down the circular ramps. Numerous concessions and merchandise stands are located along the concourses. Fans can head to the outfield to check out the many attractions at Kauffman Stadium. Anywhere throughout the stadium fans can enjoy the view of the fountains that are beyond the right field fence. On a hot day fans can stand beyond the ones in right field to cool down.