Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City Royals
- Marc Viquez
- Apr 14
- 7 min read
Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Kauffman Stadium 1 Royals Way Kansas City, MO 64129
Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 37,903
Fountains, Views, and Brews at "The K"
Kauffman Stadium was built in 1973 when most facilities of the era housed both football and baseball. These multi-purpose doughnut-shaped stadiums lacked aesthetics, were devoid of character, and were fabulously vapid. The home of the Kansas City Royals is a ballpark- and ballpark only- if its NFL counterpart, the Kansas City Chiefs, wanted to play, it did so across the parking lot in its facility, Arrowhead Stadium.
Thank goodness for the forward thinkers of architect Charles Deaton and Chiefs general manager; it would be almost two decades later until another one of its kind was built from scratch when Camden Yards opened in 1992. If Kauffman and Arrowhead were constructed as one multi-purpose stadium, like Three Rivers in Pittsburgh, The Vet in Philadelphia, or Shea Stadium in Queens, they would not exist today.
The dominant features of the ballpark include a 322-foot wide water spectacular beyond the outfield walls and a massive chevron-shaped scoreboard in center field. Until 2009, there was no access beyond this part of the ballpark. A total of $250 million in renovations turned the facility into a wraparound concourse to include an impressive children’s play area, a team hall of fame and museum, a social gathering spot behind the fountains, and a few more eateries to enjoy some of that Kansas City-style barbecue.
The K is 50-plus years old and regarded as one of the finest examples of a modern baseball stadium; that tradition continues with the 37,903-seat facility offering beautiful views of the outfield, plenty of areas to socialize, and high-quality food that today's customers expect when they purchase a ticket.
Food & Beverage 4
Kaufman Stadium offers a wide variety of food, from the basic standards to local favorites such as barbecue. There is also a value menu that includes items priced at $5 or less, restaurants, and social spaces with beautiful views of the field and outfield fountains.
The new items this year include Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que in right field near the outfield experience. The feature item is the Z-Man sandwich, which is a beef brisket sandwich with smoked provolone and crispy onion rings on a toasted roll. There is also a Chicken Z-Man sandwich with smoked mayonnaise. The barbecue favorites include SMOAK Craft BBQ, which offers chopped brisket or pulled pork plates and sandwiches and a selection of slides.
A few more local favorites are Pasquantinos in section 208. The Vinnie Beef Paswhich is their take on Italian Beef that includes provolone, bacon, hash browns, and Giardiniera. Buffalo State Pizza in sections 234 and 252 and the Italian Sausage Company in Section 224 provide locally sourced ingredients. The Grinder’s stand in the outfield area offers cheesesteaks in front of your eyes.
A few more interesting spots are the Chickie & Pete’s stand offering crab fries and boneless wings, Polcana serving deep-fried Oreos and churros, Andy’s Frozen Custard with a variety of flavors, and Tender Love & Chicken (three locations) for fried chicken tenders and more.
If you are looking for something to drink, the stadium features a beer garden with six varieties of Boulevard beer (Space Camper IPA, Boulevard Light, Easy Orange, and the original Pale Ale) and hard seltzer lines of Quirk (blueberry slam and lemonade tea). Fans can also enjoy Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Blue Moon at the beer garden and pub. There is also a Quirk and Boulevard-dedicated stand in the outfield behind the fountains.
Atmosphere 4
Hours before the first pitch, the massive parking lot is brimming with people tailgating, a scene that occurs at a few baseball stadiums across the country. Once inside, the majority of the seating offers majestic views of the diamond, and the massive 12-story chevron-shaped scoreboard is large and bright enough to provide stats, playback, and player profiles for all to notice from their seats.
The main attraction of the stadium is the 322-foot water spectacular, a series of 10-foot high waterfalls that extend from the left to right field of the outfield wall. The waterfalls are the largest privately funded fountains in the world and rise after a Royals home run or in between innings. They also change colors at certain times during the game or when games move into the nighttime.
The Outfield Experience is a perfect place for children and opens 90 minutes before the game. Kids can test their pitching arm on the basepaths, play on a mini-baseball diamond, play mini-golf, and run on the basepaths. There is also a carousel and playground slides to keep the kids entertained for long periods. On Wednesday nights, the area offers concerts before the game.
There are six social spaces at the game, including spectacular views of the game from different vantage points of the stadium. The Brew and View is atop the 401 and 402 section on the third base side and includes a $20 voucher for a 24-ounce domestic can of bottled water. Craft & Draft is located at the end of the 301 and 302 sections and includes an in-house menu of smoked chicken wings, quick-fire pizza, and barbecue poutine. Each ticket comes with $20 of loaded value for food and drink.
One of the social areas that were open to the public during our visit is the Rival Sports Bar which is behind the left field wall behind the visitor's bullpen. It is a great place to hang out for food and drinks with friends and family near the fountains. A separate menu includes garlic street fries, a Reuben sandwich, and $20 of loaded value with each ticket.
The outfield also houses the Royals Hall of Fame, which is open to the fans for free during the game. The impressive museum features a wonderful collection of paraphernalia, accolades, and many memories of the franchise dating back to its first season in 1969. If you want more history, bronze statues of George Brett, Frank White, and Dick Howser resided in the right field area of the ballpark.
Neighborhood 3
The stadium was built in a sports complex outside of downtown just off I-70, but that was the popular choice in the early 1970s. Downtown Kansas City has changed dramatically since then; however, you are never too far by car to take in some great places to eat and visit in town.
The city is famous for its barbecue scene, with standout spots like Gates, Arthur Bryant’s, Joe’s Kansas City, Q39, Char Bar, and LQ's. No matter which one you choose, you’re in for some seriously good barbecue.
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que has various locations, but its original spot in a gas station just across the border in Kansas City, Kansas, is quite the experience. Q39 is located downtown and has quite a reputation among the people in KC. The burnt-end burger, pork belly, and sausage corn dog are highlights. Slap’s BBQ sells barbecue until it is out. The burnt ends are tender, the ribs fall off the bone, and cheesy corn is a nice alternative to mac and cheese.
Two places to enjoy a beverage after the game include beer from the Boulevard Beer Hall, a two-story building featuring 30 beers on tap, outside patio seating, and couches for a great place to relax. The other place is J. Rieger & Co., a distillery located in a historic building in the Electric Park district. Visitors can enjoy a mixed cocktail, take a self-guided tour of exhibits, and exit the second floor via an indoor slide.
The World War 1 Museum and Memorial is a comprehensive collection of material from the First World War that is informative and detailed to a somewhat forgotten part of history. Just down the hill is Union Station, which features exhibits, a planetarium, and the Science Center in the historic train Center. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a comprehensive look at the men and women who shaped baseball, featuring stories about all-time greats, uniforms, and a timeline of the various Negro Leagues.
Fans 3
The Royals boast a passionate fanbase that continues to support the team through every season. In 2024, fans were rewarded with an exciting playoff appearance, fueled by the dynamic play of one of the league's top stars, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Die-hard supporters filled the stands with energy, while many others enjoyed the stadium's ambiance.
Access 4
Kauffman Stadium is off I-70 in the Truman Sports Complex, eight miles east of downtown Kansas City. There are six different entrances directing motorists to the parking lots, and it is advised to get there earlier for weekend games and promotional events. Once inside the stadium, the wraparound concourse takes fans to all parts of the facility. An older method of exiting fans from the stadium, but effective.
Return on Investment 4
Ticket prices can start at $5 for standing-room-only seating and increase based on seating and game day. On average, they’re among the most affordable in Major League Baseball, with slightly higher prices on weekends. Concession costs are moderate and comparable to other MLB stadiums. It’s best to buy tickets in advance through the MLB mobile app, where general parking is $21 and reserved parking is $31—both offering a $10 discount compared to gate prices.
Fans can find ballpark favorites for $5 or less, including beer, soda, hot dogs, pretzels, and popcorn. They are available in sections 120, 135, 201, 213, 242, 405, 417, and 422. Fans with SRO tickets can enjoy the game from behind the waterfalls or in the outfield ball and lounge areas.
Extras 4
Kauffman Stadium receives its first point for the beautiful waterfall display in the Outfield. When you think of the home of the Kansas City Royals, you think of those beautiful waterfalls, and it makes perfect sense to play in the City of Fountains.
Kauffman Stadium gets a second point for the children's area in the Outfield Experience section. The impressive playground area is more than enough to entertain kids and keep them busy well into extra innings.
Kauffman Stadium receives a third point for being an outlier when baseball stadiums were quite vapid and dual-purpose. It allowed easy modification when renovations took place years later, turning one of the true ballparks into something for fans to enjoy.
Kauffman receives a final point for the 12-story scoreboard shaped like the Royals logo. The chevron-shaped scoreboard has been a staple at the stadium since its opening in 1973 and is probably the second most dominant feature.
Final Thoughts
There's a reason Kauffman Stadium is regarded as one of the class jewels of Major League Baseball for well over 45 years. It is a baseball facility that offers tantalizing views of waterfalls and great menu items for everyone who visits. It continues to reinvent itself making it a nice place for a stadium journey during the baseball season.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com
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