KAUFFMAN STADIUM

KAUFFMAN STADIUM

EXTERIOR

TEAM ::: KANSAS CITY ROYALS
LOCATION ::: KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
MY FIRST VISIT ::: JULY 7, 2005
OPPONENT ::: MINNESOTA TWINS
MY MLB STADIUM RANK ::: 1 OF 41

RATINGS

BALLFIELD ::: A+
SCOREBOARD ::: A+
FOOD ::: A+
FACILITIES ::: A+
MASCOT ::: A

MY TAKE ON THE PARK

DRIVING EAST OUT OF KANSAS CITY ON I-70 YOU SEE THE SIGNS FOR THE SPORTS
COMPLEX. SOON ON YOUR RIGHT HAND SIDE A HUGE KC CROWN WITH A SEA OF BLUE
SEATS BEHIND IT EXPLODES ON TO YOU WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE
BEST REASON BY FAR TO TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WOULD BE TO GET
A GLIMPSE OF THIS STADIUM. TAKE THE EXIT AND IT JUST GETS BETTER.

THE SPORTS COMPLEX ENTRANCE IS RIGHT OFF THE EXIT WHERE YOU ENTER INTO A
PARKING LOT I HAVEN'T SEE SINCE DODGER STADIUM. A HUGE LOT IS PROVIDED
FOR ROYALS FANS WHERE THERE WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM FOR PARKING. THERE
IS ALSO ANOTHER HUGE STADIUM BEHIND KAUFFMAN, ARROWHEAD STADIUM WHERE
THE CHIEFS PLAY IS ALSO IN THIS SPORTS COMPLEX. $9 FOR PARKING AND DUE
TO THE CURRENT ROYALS THE PARKING IS NOT CROWDED.

THE BACK OF KAUFFMAN STADIUM

THE BACK OF THE STADIUM DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT
ENTER FROM THIS SIDE BECAUSE THERE IS A REAL TREAT AWAITING YOU. WALK
THROUGH THE GATES AND HEAD TOWARDS THE SEATING AREA, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT
TO WALK PAST THE FOOD, BUT FOR A FIRST VISIT WALK INTO THE BOWL. A HUGE
KC CROWN SCOREBOARD DOMINATES THE INITIAL VIEW, BUT THEN YOU SEE THE
FOUNTAINS AND THE LIGHTS ACROSS THE TOP OF THE BOARD. A SPECTACULAR VIEW
AWAITS. GET TO THE GAME EARLY AND TAKE A SEAT ON LOWER LEVEL AND ENJOY
THE FOUNTAINS AND BATTING PRACTICE.

FROM BEHIND THE FOUNTAINS

WHEN BATTING PRACTICE IS OVER, DON'T RUSH TO YOUR SEAT, TAKE A STROLL
OUT TO RIGHT FIELD FOR A DIFFERENT VIEW. DUE TO RENOVATIONS, YOU ARE NOW
ABLE TO WALK BEHIND THE FOUNTAINS AND GET A VIEW OF THE FIELD THROUGH
THE SPRAY OF THE FOUNTAINS. ANOTHER SPECTACULAR VIEW.

FROM RIGHT FIELD

ON THE WALK BACK FROM RIGHT FIELD, STOP FOR ONE OF THE MANY FOOD CHOICES
AROUND KAUFFMAN STADIUM. A PULLED PORK SANDWICH AT GATES BAR B Q, A
DELICIOUS SAUSAGE, OR A FOOT LONG HOT DOG ALL ARE VERY VERY GOOD HERE IN
KANSAS CITY. EVEN BETTER, THE PRICES ARE ON THE LOW END OF THE MAJOR
LEAGUE PRICE SCALE.

FROM LEFT FIELD

UPON ARRIVING AT THE SEATS, THE USHERS IN YOUR SECTION ARE VERY HAPPY TO
SEE YOU, LIKE CAMDEN YARDS, THEY KNOW HOW GREAT A PARK THEY ARE IN AND
THEY ARE HAPPY YOU ARE ENJOYING IT WITH THEM. THE USHERS REALLY DON'T
BOTHER YOU FOR YOUR TICKET BECAUSE YOU MAY BE THE ONLY ONE IN THERE
SECTION. I WILL SAY THIS FOR THE USHERS, THEY ARE ON EVERY FOUL BALL
AND WHEN ONE LANDS IN THERE SECTION, THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY OVER TO THE
PERSON MAKING SURE THEY ARE OK. THE SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE, THE
UPPER DECK SEATS MAY BE A LITTLE FAR FROM THE ACTION BUT STILL PROVIDE GREAT VIEW OF THE ACTION.

DURING THE GAME, THE FOUNTAINS TURN TO WATERFALLS AND PROVIDE AN
IMPRESSIVE BACKDROP FOR THE GAME. THERE ARE TWO SCOREBOARDS IN THE
OUTFIELD, THE MAIN CROWN SCOREBOARD WHICH UPDATES QUICKLY AND GIVES ALL
OF THE GAME INFORMATION AND THE VIDEO BOARD IN LEFT WHICH PROVIDES
REPLAYS AND ADVERTISEMENT. PROBLEM IS, BETWEEN INNINGS I DON'T KNOW MANY
PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE LOOKING AT LEFT FIELD DUE TO THE FOUNTAINS DANCING
IN RIGHT.

VERY FEW STADIUMS DO EVERYTHING RIGHT. KANSAS CITY IS AT THE TOP OF MY
LIST BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. GETTING TO THE GAME IS A STRESS FREE
EXPERIENCE, FOR THE OUT OF TOWN FAN THERE IS A HOLIDAY INN ACROSS THE
STREET WHICH IS CLOSE ENOUGH WHERE YOU CAN WALK TO THE GAME. BE ADVISED
THAT IT IS NOT A FLAT WALK, DUE TO THE WAY THE STADIUM IS SET INTO THE
GROUND, THERE ARE TWO STEEP HILLS TO WALK DOWN BEFORE GETTING TO THE
EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT. ONCE INSIDE, THE FOUNTAINS COULD ALLOW THE
ROYALS TO FORGET ABOUT THE FIELD, THEY DON'T. THE FIELD IS PERFECT,
THERE IS NOT A MARK ON THE FIELD, NOR IS THERE A SPOT IN THE STADIUM.
ASIDE FROM EVERYTHING ELSE, KAUFFMAN STADIUM IS SPOTLESS. THE ONLY MINOR
COMPLAINT IS THAT THE BATHROOMS COULD USE A COAT OF PAINT AND MAYBE SOME
UPDATING, OUTSIDE OF THAT, KAUFFMAN STADIUM IS A PERFECT PLACE TO SEE A
GAME.

THE LINE UPS

MINNESOTA TWINS MANAGER :::
35 RON GARDENHIRE

KANSAS CITY ROYALS MANAGER :::

25 BUDDY BELL

MINNESOTA TWINS

23 Shannon Stewart lf
8 Nick Punto 2b
7 Joe Mauer c
48 Torii Hunter cf
11 Jacque Jones rf
24 Matthew LeCroy dh
27 Justin Morneau 1b
38 Luis Rodriguez 3b
17 Juan Castro ss
49 Kyle Lohse p / LP

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

9 David DeJesus cf
14 Tony Graffanino 2b
3 Terrence Long lf
35 Emil Brown rf
12 Matt Stairs 1b
4 Angel Berroa ss
24 Mark Teahen 3b
2 John Buck c
15 Shane Costa dh
33 Jose Lima p / WP

SCOREBOARD