Legends Field - Kansas City Monarchs

Photos by Marc Viquez, Nick Carey, & Mapping the Path.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29

Legends Field 1800 Village West Pkwy Kansas City, KS 66111

Kansas City Monarchs website

Legends Field website

Year Opened: 2003

Capacity: 6,537

Honoring the Past in Kansas City

The Kansas City Monarchs are members of the American Association and play home games at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The ball club moved to town in 2003 from Duluth, Minnesota, and was renamed the T-Bones, but rebranded in January of 2021 under new ownership.

Team owner Mark Brandmeyer partnered with the Negro League Baseball Museum to rebrand as the Kansas City Monarchs and have a portion of sales at the game go back to the museum. The original Monarchs were the longest-tenured ball club in the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1964, winning 11 pennants, and featuring former legends of the game Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Cool "Papa" Bell, Buck O’Neil, and Ernie Banks.

The stadium opened as CommunityAmerica Ballpark in 2003 and cost $14 million. It was built in the West Village, which developers saw as an ideal location for tourist dollars. The neighborhood would blossom with retail, hotels, restaurants, and two sporting venues (see neighborhood section), and other points of interest.

Food & Beverage 4

The food and beverage at the ballpark offers local flavors and beverages from around the Kansas City area. Items that can be found should appeal to many visitors at the game. Pepsi products are the official soft drinks at the ballpark.

The KC BBQ Project offers smoked meats and includes barbecue mac and cheese, brisket sandwiches, and chili cheese fries. Home Slice Pizza offers slices of pizza in numerous varieties. The Grill King has hot dogs, sausages, nachos, and cheesesteaks for sale.

There is a freshly squeezed lemonade kiosk and Betty Rae’s Ice Cream shack on the first base, close to the Beer Park, that offers a collection of macro and local beers from Boulevard, Martin City, and Outfield Beer Company.

Atmosphere 3

The atmosphere begins well before the gates open, with fans tailgating in the parking lot. It is an experience that is uncommon at most facilities. The team installed synthetic turf in 2025 to ensure the field can accommodate Mother Nature in the early part of the season and other events at the stadium.

There is seating for 7,500 and includes a wrap-around open concourse, a picnic area, grass lawn seating in right field, and a center field party area. There are table-top seats with small patches of synthetic turf and many vantage points to watch the game.

The Home Run Porch is an all-you-can-eat group area, and outdoor couches, small fire pits, and outdoor games can be found in the outfield concourse of the stadium. The large grass seating is evenly sloped and offers fans a relaxing way to enjoy the game on a sunny afternoon or early evening.

Photo Courtesy of Nick Carey, American Ballpark Road Trip

The team store is behind home plate and is 3,000 square feet, featuring a huge selection of shirts, caps, jerseys, and retro-Monarchs gear. The interlocking KC logo is predominant in various styles. The past is honored with former players on the walls along with a mini-floatig museum that highlights the achievements of the Negro Leagues.

The open-area concourse allows viewing of the game while away from your seat and provides easy access to many parts of the stadium. Monty is the official mascot, and he can be seen roaming around the stadium.

Neighborhood 4

Legends Field is located in Village West, a $1.2 billion retail, dining, and entertainment section located at the intersection of I-70 and I-43, 11 miles west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It is the most visited destination by tourists in Kansas and has fueled population growth in the county.

The Kansas Speedway, home of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and the NASCAR Racing Experience, where visitors can drive or ride along in an authentic NASCAR vehicle, is a few hundred yards away from the ballpark. Children’s Mercy Park is also on the same street as the home of Sporting Kansas City in the MLS. If you plan a visit, you might be able to take in three events at these facilities on one day.

Legends Outdoor Kansas City is home to 100 retail stores and restaurants, Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and Bass Pro Shop (formerly the Cabela’s store). The Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor waterpark and hotel, and Chateau Avalaon is a luxury bed and breakfast.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a highlight of the trip to KC, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

The best barbecue closest to the ballpark, Joe’s Kansas City Barbecue, is world-renowned among chefs, locals, and tourists. There might be a line, but you can grab a beer or enjoy the smell of smoke as you near the cashier. Everything is good, including the sides, but the burnt ends are what you need to eat if you get the chance.

The WWI Museum is a fascinating view at an often overlooked war that is as interactive and engaging as it is informative. If you have time for baseball, there is a team called the Kansas City Royals that plays at Kauffman Stadium from April to October. I hear that they even have fountains in their outfield and a great kids’ play area.

Fans 3

The attendance at Monarchs games is routinely in the middle of the league, with an average of around 2,106 fans per game. The stadium has all the needs and wants for a 21st-century fan, and many who attend the game do an admirable job of cheering on the home team. There are plenty of promotional nights to attract fans to weekday games, and a lot more activities take place on the concourse during games.

Access 5

The stadium is at the I-70 and I-435 intersection, with plenty of signs guiding motorists to both the complex and the ballpark. There is plenty of free parking and a spacious concourse that wraps around the entire field with plenty of room to move around. All bathrooms, concession stands, and exits are marked.

Return on Investment 4

The Kansas City Monarchs offer a variety of nights that offer affordable tickets and concession prices. Tickets start at $10 for games on Monday to Wednesday and jump to $15 on the weekends. The team has fireworks after every Friday evening game and offers free parking for all home games. The team store is stocked with plenty of team merchandise, including jerseys, shirts, caps, and other apparel. 

Photo Courtesy of Mapping the Path

Fans can bring their pups to games on Monday and grab a hot dog for $2. Tuesdays offer $2 tacos and $5 margaritas. If the Monarchs win on Wednesday night, fans can come back to a future game for free. Thirsty Thursdays offer $3 beers and $2 hot dogs. The best options for value are on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights.

Extras 4

Legends Fields earns points for the numerous promotional nights on Monday to Thursday that include food and drink specials, and bringing your dogs to the game on Monday nights. The inner concourse is loaded with portraits of former Negro League players that include Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil, and Ernie Banks. The third point is for the team not charging for parking at the game. The final point is for the collection of current and retro-Monarch merchandise in the team shop.

Final Thoughts

Legends Field has transitioned from a normal ballpark to one that has nice little touches of comfort, history, and fan conveniences. There is a great food selection, creative game promotions, and plenty of merchandise for fans to make it a night at the ballpark.

------

Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com