Future Royals ballpark news - Kansas City Municipal Stadium
Formerly, Royals Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
Groundbreaking: July, 1968
1st American League Game: April 10, 1973
Surface: AstroTurf (1973-1994), Grass (1995-present)
Architect: HNTB (Kansas City)
Cost: $70 million (Total for Harry S. Truman Sports complex which included Arrowhead Stadium)
Owner: Jackson County
Seating capacity: 40,785
Playing Field Dimensions:
Foul lines: 330 ft
Power Alleys: 385 ft (1973-1994, 2004-present); 375 ft. (1995-2003)
Center field: 410 ft (1973-1994, 2004-present), 400 ft. (1995-2003)
Height of Fences: 12 ft (1973), 9 ft (1995)
Hosted World Series: 1980, 1985
Hosted All-Star Game: 1973
In 1967, Jackson County voters approved a $43 million bond issue for a sports complex that would provide separate stadiums for the A's and Chiefs (above left). But at the end of the 1967 season, Kansas City A's owner Charlie Finley, sniffing riches from out west, moved his team to Oakland, California. In 1969 Kansas City returned to major league status with an expantion team. The new stadiums were still just in the planning stages and the Royals played for their first 4 seasons in Kansas City Municipal Stadium.
The first Game played at the brand new Royals Stadium, which was built side-by-side with its sister stadium, Arrowhead, (The two were officially called the Harry S. Truman sports complex) took place April 10, 1973... In 39 degree weather. The original budget of the 2 stadiums was $43 million, however the actual cost ballooned to over $70 million.
The facility was officially re-named in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993. Since its opening, a total of 53,062,406 people have visited the stadium, including a record 2,477,700 in 1989. Kauffman Stadium's unique features include a 12-story high scoreboard and a 322-foot wide water spectacular. The scoreboard contains 16,320 light bulbs, most of them on the 40 by 60 foot screen. The water spectacular is the largest privately funded fountain in the world.
Added in 1990 was a state-of-the-art Sony JumboTron color video display board installed on the left field hillside. In keeping with the architecture of the stadium, the existing water spectacular featuring cascading water now extends to the left field corner. Prior to the 1999 campaign, additional field level seating, known as "Crown Seats" and four dugout suites were added to enhance the stadium. Prior to the 2000 season the Picnic Pavilion was added near the base of the JumboTron in leftfield for groups attending the games.
Iconic Moments: May 15, 1973 - California Angels ace Nolan Ryan records the first no-hitter of his Hall of Fame career at Royals Stadium. He struck out 12 for a 3-0 win.
October 27, 1985. World Series Game 7. George Brett went 4 for 5 as Bret Saberhagen threw a masterful 5-hit shutout. The Royals massacre St. Louis 11-0 and win their only World Championship to date.
The good: All this park really was lacking was grass. Now, it lacks little.
The bad: Baaaad?
The ugly: OK, as beautiful Kauffman is on the inside, the exterior is just a mess of 70's standard bare grey concrete. They could fairly easily jazz it up with some paint and trimmings, as Angel Stadium was, when renovated in the late 1990's.
Kansas City Royals
1 Royal Way
Kansas City, Missouri 64129
(816) 921-2200
Club Box $27
Dugout Box $27
Field Box $23
Dugout Plaza $24
Field Plaza $20
Outfield Plaza $12
View Box $15
View Reserve Infield $12
HyVee View Level $7
Seating Chart
Purchase Tickets
TV: RSTN, KMCI-38
In-park dining choices: Gates BBQ, Krispy Kreme
Concession items include BBQ pork sandwiches, Krispy Kreme, BBQ beef, chili cheese fries, BBQ, funnel cakes... did we mention the BBQ?
Kansas City Dining Guide - Best Bets
Directions & Parking
Ballpark Tour & Vacation Packages
All seats are angled to face 2nd base.
The American Leagues 1st all synthetic playing surface
The 2.7 million scoreboard and the water spectacular were gifts to the stadium from Ewing Kauffman.
More notable moments at Kauffman Stadium:
July 24, 1973 - Kansas City hosts the 40th anniversary All-Star Game. Cincinnati's Johnny Bench blasts a mammoth homer to spark a 7-1 National League win. Hall of Famer Willie Mays makes his last All-Star appearance and Royals John Mayberry and Amos Otis combine for 3 of the 5 A.L. hits.
October 3, 1976 - George Brett, Hal McRae and Minnesota's Rod Carew entered the final game of the season separated by .001 in the batting race. Brett (.333) went 3-for-4 to edge teammate McRae (.332) by .001 in a battle of one of the closest batting title races in baseball history.
October 9, 1976 - First post-season game played at Royals Stadium in Game 1 of the 1976 American League Championship Series. New York takes a 4-1 win in the opener.
May 14, 1977 - Jim Colborn hurls the first no-hitter by a Royals pitcher at Royals Stadium, blanking Texas, 6-0
August 17, 1980 - George Brett reaches the .400 mark with a 4-for-4 outburst against Toronto, capped by a standing ovation at second base after a double.
October 17, 1980 - Kansas City hosts its first World Series game and registers a 4-3, 10-inning win vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.
October 27, 1985 - The Royals captures its first World Series Championship with an 11-0 win at Royals Stadium in Game 7 over St. Louis.
June 7, 1986 - Amos Otis and Steve Busby are the inaugural inductees into the newly formed Royals Hall of Fame with a pre-game ceremony.
September 14, 1986 - Bo Jackson launches the longest home run in Royals Stadium history, a 475-foot shot off Seattle's Mike Moore. It was Jackson's first career home run.
August 26, 1991 - Bret Saberhagen fires a no-hitter to beat the White Sox 7-0 at Royals Stadium.
September 16, 1996 - Minnesota's Paul Molitor lashes a triple to join the 3,000 hit club.
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