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The K

Official Review by Jack Winter, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Inaugurated on April 10, 1973, Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is the longtime home of the Kansas City Royals. Simply known as "The K" or "Kauffman" to regulars, it is located at the Truman Sports Complex along with the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium.

Though the Royals have arguably been Major League Baseball's most downtrodden franchise since their lone World Series win in 1985, one would hardly know it given Kauffman's tremendous combination of originality and amenities new and old. Already one of the most unique venues in baseball, The K underwent a massive face-lift completed in time for Opening Day 2009. Given the fantastic new additions to a ballpark that already carried a solid reputation, it's no surprise Kansas City was selected to host July's 2012 MLB All-Star Game.

Led by an abnormally large group of talented youngsters, the Royals look poised for a long-awaited playoff berth within the near future. Their coming success should be met with open arms by fans across the country, as a venue like Kauffman Stadium deserves not just an All-Star Game, but a national spotlight for a wealth of October baseball.

Food & Beverage    5

That the available concessions are arguably the most impressive aspect of a stadium experience would be a bad sign for most. Not at The K, though, as its selection of food and drink no doubt rates among the best in baseball, and all sporting venues across the country.

Typical food and drink fare like hot dogs, bratwursts, and the like are available at every turn and are reasonably priced. What makes the concessions at Kauffman special, though, is its wide selection of KC-born favorites. Signature sandwiches like the KC Ribeye Steak and Royals' Pork T ($10.50 each, but worth it) combine traditional stadium food with local flare that makes Kansas City "cowtown." All-Star BBQ serves classic hometown dishes like burnt ends and a half rack of ribs ($16, but feeds more than one), while Boulevard Brewing Company stands offer the best beer in the midwest. Topsy's Popcorn and Sheridan's Frozen Custard are two local options for those with a sweet tooth, while Rivals Sports Bar "" a 150 seat restaurant located high in right-field "" makes eating at the ballpark seem like a night out on the town.

Atmosphere    4

Surprisingly, the overall atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium was barely diminished by the Royals' non-existent postseason hopes. Instead, everyone in the stadium young and old seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The newly renovated outfield portion of The K was especially vibrant. The Royals Hall of Fame was crowded, the Bud Light Party Zone was packed with people eating and drinking, children loved playing putt-putt, "running the bases", and the merry-go-round, while the outfield's huge fountains provided a special and unique element to baseball. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more entertainment-filled area than Kauffman's outfield, and it no doubt played a special role in finally bringing the All-Star Game to KC.

Fans were engaged in play on the field as well as stadium promotions shown on one of the biggest high-definition LED screens in the world, located in center field. On a crisp autumn night, there were few at The K who'd have rather been anywhere else.

Neighborhood    1

For a Chiefs game, the Truman Sports Complex offers anything you'd want for a tailgating experience. What has to be one of the biggest parking lots in the country amidst pure isolation makes for an all-encompassing NFL experience. As tailgating isn't exactly a storied baseball tradition, the area surrounding the Sports Complex leaves much to be desired for the Royals. Some fans take advantage of the space surrounding the stadium and eat/drink outside their cars before gametime, but such activity is sparse and hardly worth mentioning. In short, Kauffman Stadium's neighborhood is a lone black eye on what is otherwise a great experience.

Fans    4

Some of Kansas City's senior sports fanatics "" unbeknownst to most "" characterize it as a "baseball town." Watching a game in Kauffman Stadium, it's easy to see why they feel that way.

The crowd hangs on every pitch, reacting with fervor to each called ball and strike. When the Royals strike offensively, fans go wild and yearn for more. Despite a small attendance number, this was a crowd that was clearly educated and loved the game.

The fun had at The K was obviously not just due to the stadium itself. The fans, of course, contributed a great deal to an atmosphere that would be appreciated by a baseball fanatic or a first-timer looking to catch a foul ball.

Access    4

Truman Sports Complex is surrounded by two major interstate highways, and is also accessible by multiple service roads. The huge parking lot makes for easy parking, and approaching or exiting the Sports Complex is equally care-free.

Once inside Kauffman Stadium, finding your seat and anything else is done with ease. A large concourse encircles the bottom portion of the stadium, while escalators and circular walkways lead to The K's upper levels.

The only negative with regard to access is the abnormally deep and wide steps on the stadium's lower level. In between innings and other times of heavy traffic, this often leads to some backup in the aisles as the stairs are relatively difficult to traverse.

Return on Investment    5

In general, the prices of tickets and concessions at Kauffman Stadium align consistently with those of other parks around Major League Baseball. Considering recent updates and the fact that it's surely among the league's best venues, that speaks well to getting great bang for your buck.

Buying a "walk-up" ticket, though, might as well amount to stealing. Most every game, it's possible to walk up to an office at The K and purchase a seat for the paltry price of $9. Your seat won't be along the third base line or in the fountains, but for a stadium with good sight-lines and a seemingly endless amount of extra entertainment activities, that hardly matters.

A $9 ticket or not, a trip to Kauffman Stadium is more than worth the price of admission.

Extras    5

Where to begin?

The outfield alone deserves four extra points. The videoboard and fountains make Kauffman Stadium one of the most aesthetically unique in all of sports, while the countless number of activities for children and Bud Light Party Deck ensure that fans of all ages and interests will have a great time at The K.

Kauffman Stadium's myriad of food and drink choices deserves an extra mention, as well, as it surely rates as one of the best in all of professional sports.

Was not thrilled with my visit here in May, 2010

Hall of Fame Experience: The Hall of Fame is a wonderful idea. I love reading and seeing baseball history. And there was plenty of that in the Royals HOF. However, there was way too much audio interference while strolling through the museum. I'd be reading one display and then hearing a video clip (or three) from the ones behind or next to me. It caused me to lose concentration and not enjoy it as I think I would have.

Tailgating: Tailgating was allowed. The parking lot looked like a pig sty after the game. Apparently, Royals fans don't know how to walk to the many dumpsters provided and discard their trash. Instead, they left it right in the parking lot. This put a very big damper to my visit here.

Bud Light Party Deck: Had to wait 15 min for someone to even acknowledge me. And then, there was a poor choice of beer selection. I left. I did find a better beer stand on the concourse with the choices I like.

by megminard | Dec 10, 2010 01:58 PM

Going to Kansas City

We really enjoyed our visit to Kauffman Stadium.Parking was a breeze,seeing how we arrived early to take in the Outfield Experience.The kids really loved the Experience they have everything from a 5 hole mini-golf course to your basic pitching and hitting games.They even have a little field in which the kids can take some swings. Everything out there costs a dollar.For adults the Royals Hall of Fame is a must see.You start off with a 15 to 20 minute video, sitting in whats supposed to be the Royals dugout.Then you can see Cy Young awards to the World Series Trophy, and everything in between.My favorite was the #5 made of baseballs in relation to the number of George Bretts hits. Thats alot of baseballs.

Neighborhood: There really is not much to do around the stadium.But if you head down to 18th and Vine you can check out the Negro Leagues Museum.I have to say I was a little disappointed in it. I was expecting alot more,still worth it though.Plus your only a couple of blocks from Arthur Bryant's.If your a college basketball fan you have to head downtown to the Sprint Center for the College Basketball Experience(CBE).It's full of interactive stuff along with the Hall of Fame.

by mattyb | Sep 23, 2011 11:05 AM

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