The New Kauffman Stadium

[Sammys Boombox]

While going to school here at Mizzou I discovered the awesome, cheap experience of Kauffman Stadium. Now, it is even better. I went today to see Sabathia beat up on the Royals. The stadium is gorgeous. There are so many new things in the park that I like. There's an area called the Pepsi Party Deck. It's just two long rows of SRO in right field that are amazingly good for BP balls. I didn't get one today, but the two people to my left and two of the three to my right got a ball. The "Duck Seats" are day-of-game only and are $7, which is awesome considering they're decent OF seats. The scoreboard is amazing. They made a dumpy old stadium really neat.

 

A couple cool promotions:

Friday and Sunday 4-packs. 4 UD infield seats cost $60 and come with $40 to spend at the concession stand or gift shop.

Sunday: any fan any age can go out on the infield after the game.

Saturday the park opens 3 hours before game time so you can watch the Royals take BP instead of just the visitors.

[BCVM22]

I saw parts of it on today's highlights and hardly even recognized the place. They've revamped that entire outfield area and added an actual outfield concourse to what was just fountains, the big scoreboard and some advertisements previously.

[cubsfaninkansas]

was there sunday, good looking ballpark, cheap tickets, but omg was it cold and rainy their

[javy knows my name]

Is there anything near the park along the lines of bars, restaurants and hotels? It gives the impression of being in the middle of a damn corn field.

[NonProfitCow]

Is there anything near the park along the lines of bars, restaurants and hotels? It gives the impression of being in the middle of a damn corn field.

It's right off the highway. It's not in a walkable part of the city.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=kauffman+stadium&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=44.744674,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=39.052018,-94.479525&spn=0.010765,0.019312&t=h&z=16

[javy knows my name]

I suppose I could have done that. Sweet, pretty sure I will never, ever go

[illiniguy]

I suppose I could have done that. Sweet, pretty sure I will never, ever go

Your loss. You're only about a ten minute drive from everything.

[Sammys Boombox]

I suppose I could have done that. Sweet, pretty sure I will never, ever go

Your loss. You're only about a ten minute drive from everything.

 

I really like KC. Sure it doesn't have the neighborhood like some parks, but thats not the sole reason I visit a park.

[illiniguy]

I suppose I could have done that. Sweet, pretty sure I will never, ever go

Your loss. You're only about a ten minute drive from everything.

 

I really like KC. Sure it doesn't have the neighborhood like some parks, but thats not the sole reason I visit a park.

The ballpark looks amazing. They have started to turn around their minor league system too. Exciting times should be ahead.

[Sammys Boombox]

I suppose I could have done that. Sweet, pretty sure I will never, ever go

Your loss. You're only about a ten minute drive from everything.

 

I really like KC. Sure it doesn't have the neighborhood like some parks, but thats not the sole reason I visit a park.

The ballpark looks amazing. They have started to turn around their minor league system too. Exciting times should be ahead.

 

My first Royals game was a meaningless September game in 2006. There was a large crowd for fireworks night. The Royals had a late rally and the atmosphere was actually very electric. I really would enjoy to see pennant race baseball there.

[TruffleShuffle]

if i ever go to KC i definitely want to catch a ballgame there.

[mjohnson71]

It does look very different on TV.

 

My guess is that they'll have a lot better ballpark than their Missouri neighbors in St. Louis after it's all said and done. But the Royal got almost every upgrade for free as the county taxpayers are footing most of the bill. The Cardinals paid for most of Busch III all on their own. That's why Busch III feels second rate.

 

Is there anything near the park along the lines of bars, restaurants and hotels? It gives the impression of being in the middle of a damn corn field.

 

You have to realize that Wrigley is not the norm with it's location. We're very lucky. Most modern ballparks are built to reflect that we are a car centered nation and are surrounded by parking lots.

 

Kaufmann is in the middle of a huge parking lot and there's nothing to do pre/post game when it comes to bars. That being said people in Kansas City really know how to tailgate. While not as big as football: Royals games on Friday to Sunday will have some pretty good tailgating going on.

 

And if you ever can, get to Arrowhead for a Chiefs game. Their pre-game tailgating is epic. But I will warn you that Chiefs fans will be downright nasty to people wearing visiting colors: even if it's different than the visiting team. I wore a Bears ballcap to a Chiefs/Buffalo Bills game and was challenged to two fights along with being bumped into and yelled at.

[illiniguy]

Today I saw Kid K pitch. First time I've ever had the chacne to catch him in person. Between that and missing the turd we laid, I chose right.

[MSG T]

It does look very different on TV.

 

My guess is that they'll have a lot better ballpark than their Missouri neighbors in St. Louis after it's all said and done. But the Royal got almost every upgrade for free as the county taxpayers are footing most of the bill. The Cardinals paid for most of Busch III all on their own. That's why Busch III feels second rate.

 

Is there anything near the park along the lines of bars, restaurants and hotels? It gives the impression of being in the middle of a damn corn field.

 

You have to realize that Wrigley is not the norm with it's location. We're very lucky. Most modern ballparks are built to reflect that we are a car centered nation and are surrounded by parking lots.

 

Kaufmann is in the middle of a huge parking lot and there's nothing to do pre/post game when it comes to bars. That being said people in Kansas City really know how to tailgate. While not as big as football: Royals games on Friday to Sunday will have some pretty good tailgating going on.

 

And if you ever can, get to Arrowhead for a Chiefs game. Their pre-game tailgating is epic. But I will warn you that Chiefs fans will be downright nasty to people wearing visiting colors: even if it's different than the visiting team. I wore a Bears ballcap to a Chiefs/Buffalo Bills game and was challenged to two fights along with being bumped into and yelled at.

 

I'm a Raiders fan, and take my boys to the Chiefs/Raiders game in KC every year, since we live in Iowa and it's the only realistic place to see the Raiders. To make matters worse, my kids HS team is the Raiders, so even that stuff gets challenged. They get very nasty down there, and it's doesn't help at all when your 8 year old son is a smart ass. Being Raiders fans just multiplies the crap we get.

 

 

Oh, and Royals...er Kaufman, Stadium is the first place I ever saw a ML game. Notice the LF for the Royals...http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197308200.shtml

[Mephistopheles]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

[NonProfitCow]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

This. The only knock on it I can think of are the concourses can be a little cramped. A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

[Sammys Boombox]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

This. The only knock on it I can think of are the concourses can be a little cramped. A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

 

They still are a little cramped, but they have added some outdoor concourses that are farther away from the field that help with this. Also, the thing about buying cheap tickets and moving down is so true. Last year they actually sold tickets to seats that were actually taken out later in the year for construction so those people were told they could sit wherever they wanted. All you had to do was claim you had a seat that was taken out and you could sit three rows off the field even if your seats were three rows from the top of the stadium.

[NewUserName]

I was there 20 yrs ago and thought it was the second best ballpark I had ever been in. A couple of the newer ones have passed it, but I am going to have to go check it out again.

[mjohnson71]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

 

Somewhat OT: has anyone ever had the unfortunate experience of going to a game at Dodger Stadium? Their ushers are complete jerks. You have to enter through an assigned gate and there's very little walking around. Someone is always stopping you and redirecting you towards your seat. And don't even think about trying to move down even if it's the 8th inning and the place has emptied out.

[The Other 15]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

 

Somewhat OT: has anyone ever had the unfortunate experience of going to a game at Dodger Stadium? Their ushers are complete jerks. You have to enter through an assigned gate and there's very little walking around. Someone is always stopping you and redirecting you towards your seat. And don't even think about trying to move down even if it's the 8th inning and the place has emptied out.

Chavez Ravine is host to fight nights in the stands on a regular basis. Security has to be especially aware here.

[mjohnson71]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

 

Somewhat OT: has anyone ever had the unfortunate experience of going to a game at Dodger Stadium? Their ushers are complete jerks. You have to enter through an assigned gate and there's very little walking around. Someone is always stopping you and redirecting you towards your seat. And don't even think about trying to move down even if it's the 8th inning and the place has emptied out.

Chavez Ravine is host to fight nights in the stands on a regular basis. Security has to be especially aware here.

 

But the level to which they take it at Dodger Stadium is way overboard. You'd think it was Yankee Stadium in 1977 with how pr*ckish they are. It's one thing if I was shirtless "likes-to-fight guy" stumbling around with two beers in my hand. But cut me some slack if I'm obviously the out of town tourist who's just wanting to check the place out 90 minutes before gametime.

 

The phrase "This is why we can't have nice things" comes to mind.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Kauffman has always been one of the best kept secrets in baseball.

A cool thing is that they have hardly any ushers and the ushers that are there are "to help". Me and a buddy used to go at game time, buy 7 dollar tickets and then walk down to field level. For having small crowds, the fans are really into it. Much louder than a lot of places that draw 5-10k more people.

 

Somewhat OT: has anyone ever had the unfortunate experience of going to a game at Dodger Stadium? Their ushers are complete jerks. You have to enter through an assigned gate and there's very little walking around. Someone is always stopping you and redirecting you towards your seat. And don't even think about trying to move down even if it's the 8th inning and the place has emptied out.

 

Yeah, I had the same experience at Dodger stadium. The ushers and security were among the rudest I'm encountered anywhere. And it didn't seem to be an isolated incident. They were all that way. And it was the first stadium that I've been where there's practically only one gate to enter from depending on where you were seated. When I go to a new stadium, I usually like to roam a bit just to see what it's like and get the feel, but that wasn't happening in Dodger Stadium.

[Coach C]

if i ever go to KC i definitely want to catch a ballgame there.

 

When you do, give me a holler. I'm usually going to their games more often than not.

[Coach C]

It does look very different on TV.

 

My guess is that they'll have a lot better ballpark than their Missouri neighbors in St. Louis after it's all said and done. But the Royal got almost every upgrade for free as the county taxpayers are footing most of the bill. The Cardinals paid for most of Busch III all on their own. That's why Busch III feels second rate.

 

Is there anything near the park along the lines of bars, restaurants and hotels? It gives the impression of being in the middle of a damn corn field.

 

You have to realize that Wrigley is not the norm with it's location. We're very lucky. Most modern ballparks are built to reflect that we are a car centered nation and are surrounded by parking lots.

 

Kaufmann is in the middle of a huge parking lot and there's nothing to do pre/post game when it comes to bars. That being said people in Kansas City really know how to tailgate. While not as big as football: Royals games on Friday to Sunday will have some pretty good tailgating going on.

 

And if you ever can, get to Arrowhead for a Chiefs game. Their pre-game tailgating is epic. But I will warn you that Chiefs fans will be downright nasty to people wearing visiting colors: even if it's different than the visiting team. I wore a Bears ballcap to a Chiefs/Buffalo Bills game and was challenged to two fights along with being bumped into and yelled at.

 

Whoever those bums were that were challenging you to fight were losers. Like every teams, there are great fans, and unfortunately, there are some terrible ones. As a Chief fan, I apologize (not for those bums, but as a fan) about that incident. But then again, be glad that you're just a Bears fan. Broncos and Raider fans tend to get the worst of it.