History of Kauffman Stadium
Kauffman Stadium, nicknamed “The K,” is the sixth oldest baseball stadium in Major League baseball, dating from 1973. Unlike many parks built during that era which were erected in a similar architectural style and were multi-purpose facilities, Kauffman was intended to be used solely as a baseball stadium and has nifty architectural intricacies in its design.
Although Kauffman may differ from other ballparks of its day, similar to many is the fact that it is located outside the downtown of Kansas City in a sports complex (Truman Sports Complex) which also includes Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Access to the complex is by Interstate 70, east of downtown Kansas City. The park was originally named “Royals Park,” but was renamed in 1993 after Ewing M. Kauffman, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who was the first owner of the Royals and the driving force to get an expansion team to Kansas City.
Ballpark Design
Kauffman’s design is modern. Instead of brick accenting the steel, giving it a retro feel, The K resembles a futuristic spaceship, especially when viewed from overhead. The most impressive features of the park are the fountains located above the outfield. These displays run, highlighted by colored lights, before and after games, as well as between innings. The name of this is the Water Spectacular. The Water Spectacular is only one of many fountains in the city. Kansas City’s nickname is the “City of Fountains.” Fountains bubble throughout the city, invigorating 48 plazas and other public spaces, with the total number (including private ones) of fountains close to 160. Kansas City tourism proudly claims that it has more fountains than Rome! Near to the fountain in Kauffman is a larger than life electrified likeness of the team’s lion mascot, Sluggerrr.
Kauffman is the only stadium in the American League with the name in honor of a person. The seats in the park are blue and the field is grass. Prior to 1995, the field was made of astroturf. The spaceship effect of The K is accentuated by a gigantic video screen in the shape of the Royals’ logo, a diamond with a crown on top and spiral ramps used to access the park. Four statues of legendary Royals are here at Kauffman. They are of Ewing and wife Muriel Kauffman, Royal player greats George Brett and Frank White, and manager Dick Howser. Buck O’Neil, the famous first baseman of the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, has a legacy seat, which is located behind home plate.
Baseball Returns to KC
Kansas City lost baseball when the Kansas City Athletics left town prior to the the 1968 season heading west to Oakland. Kauffman and local politicians lobbied hard for baseball to be brought back to Kansas City. The league was looking to expand in a few years, but the drive for Kansas City baseball was so strong that the league expanded only a year later in 1969, with the addition of the Royals and the Seattle Pilots (who folded after only a year to become the Milwaukee Brewers). Prior to Kauffman opening in 1973, the Royals played at Kansas City Municipal Stadium for their first four years of existence. The Royals played well early in their tenure in Major League Baseball. They made the playoffs in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984 and 1985, and won the World Series in 1985.
The Royals Bring Another World Series Win to Kauffman
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the Royals’ streak was a hapless one, as they were not able to gain momentum or make the playoffs until 2014. With a fantastic team of homegrown young ballplayers that included Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Greg Holland, the Royals won the World Series again in 2015. In the 1980s, dynamic athletes such as George Brett, Bo Jackson, and Bret Saberhagen played for the team.
George Brett, Hall of Fame class of 1999, is known for the infamous “Pine Tar Incident” in which opponent New York Yankees’ manager Billy Martin called for the umpires to inspect Brett’s bat after a home run at a game on July 24, 1983. The home run was overturned, stating that the pine tar Brett used was too high on the bat. The Royals protested this, with the ruling eventually turned in favor of the Royals. The game continued on August 18th of the year, with the Royals winning the game, but led to a Yankees-Royals rivalry in the 1980s.
Prior to his death in 1993 Kaufman wanted to ensure the Royals stay in Kansas City. Therefore he left the Royals to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Affiliated Trust which pledged to keep the team in Kansas City.
Ballpark Amenities:
Food:
Andrew Zimmern, of the television show Bizarre Foods, runs two concessions at the park, Canteen Skewers, which features kebabs and Canteen Links, which serves hot dogs. The park also includes a Craft and Draft, a bar owned by Boulevard Brewing Company, a craft beer powerhouse from Kansas City. This bar features over 75 beers. It even includes a “Radler Station” which serves only their Ginger Radler beer. A radler is a mix of beer and soda or juice, a great summertime drink. Another Boulevard beer, served with local pride, is the KC Pils.
Pizza and Kobe beef burgers are available at Kauffman. Look out for the Sunrise Dog, a hot dog topped with a fried egg, bacon, and cheese. Other menu options include a pulled pork patty melt, a nod to KC’s specialty, barbecue. Kauffman has a liberal bring-your-own-food policy so fans can bring their own goodies into the park including unopened water bottles and snacks.
Ballpark Extras:
Kauffman’s Water Spectacular is the main feature of the park. The impressive fountains draw fans to view their majesty between innings, before or after the game. Sluggerrr, the lion, is a favorite with kids. Giveaways at games include a George Brett bobblehead doll (not a bat with pine tar), a blanket, and a ladies’ sun hat.
Insiders’ Tips:
Parking is not a problem around Kauffman. Although there is a charge, the expansive lot that accommodates the Truman Sports Complex makes it easy to park. Interstate 70, running right next to the complex, also provides access to and from the ballpark. With the success in the recent years of the Royals, I recommend buying tickets in advance.
For the Kids:
Kauffman’s fountains and mascot are two big draws for young fans. Fireworks displays are held throughout the year at The K.
While You’re There:
Restaurants:
Given Kauffman’s isolated nature in a sports complex adjacent to the interstate, neighborhood dining options are non-existent. Kansas City is synonymous with tasty cuisine though. The city’s most popular specialty is barbecue. Three of the most delicious and most famous are Gates, Joe’s Kansas City Barbecue, and Arthur Bryant’s. This region’s BBQ includes many types of meat, including pork, beef, and chicken, and is famous for the especially tasty burnt ends.
The popular Power and Light District has many dining options. Some of the finest include Drunken Fish, a trendy sushi bar, as well as national chains such as Yard House and Bar Louie. This location is home to many nightclubs and bars.
The Boulevard Brewing Company is a world class microbrewery. Popular libations include their Ginger Radler, Tank 7 Saison, and 80 Acre Hoppy Wheat. Their facility offers free tours, a taproom, and dining options.
Accommodations:
Very close to Kauffman are the Four Points by Sheraton, Woodspring Suites, and Drury Inn which all capitalize on their location near the stadiums. Kansas City is a spread out, a drivable city in which neighborhoods are linked by expressways and major routes. Staying in a neighborhood that is not close to the ballpark is not a problem to access the park. In the downtown Power and Light District, the Holiday Inn – Aladdin Hotel, Hilton President, and Courtyard by Marriott are all recommended. The Aladdin and President are two of KC’s beautiful historic hotels.
Attractions:
As stated before, Kansas City is a driving city, and although bus service is available, the best way to get around is via car. Instead of many attractions just around the downtown, these are in neighborhoods across the entire city.
Kansas City is the home of Hallmark greeting cards. Hallmark runs the shopping mall Crown Center in which many dining and shopping options can be found including well-regarded restaurants, Crayola Kansas City, and Chip’s Candy Factory. The complex connects to the central transit depot, beautiful Union Station, and has an array of fountains on-site. Also at the Crown Center is Hallmark’s Visitor Center which includes a fun museum chronicling the history and achievements of the greeting card company. Exhibits include a hall of Christmas trees, a bow making machine, and a display of collectible ornaments. Yearly the Crown Center offers an ornament composed of wood used from the past year’s Christmas tree from the Crown Center.
Museums
Close to this plaza is the National World War I Museum. The museum’s tower, the Liberty Tower, punctuates the museum as it rises towards the sky. In 2004 it earned the recognition of being the nation’s premier World War I Museum. Its collection includes artifacts from the Great War such as clothing, vehicles, and propaganda posters.
Kansas City has many other top-notch museums. Among them is the combined museum the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Both are worth a visit. The jazz museum chronicles the history of the music style, as Kansas City is the birthplace of Charlie Parker, whose neighborhood of 18th and Vine was one of the hotbeds of jazz in the 1930s and 1940s. There are numerous artifacts to look at and music to hear. The baseball museum connects to the jazz museum and is a must-see for any fan. The museum is highly informational as it depicts of the history of the baseball league from the 1920s to 1960. A really cool display is the life-size statues of the Negro Leagues’ greatest players at each position as well as the Geddy Lee (of the rock band, Rush) Collection of autographed baseball cards.
Country Club Plaza and Westport
Another shopping area, Country Club Plaza, has upscale, mostly chain shops in a neighborhood setting. Loose Park, a picturesque gem, is located close by. Part of this park was used as a command outpost for the Confederacy in the Civil War during the Battle of Westport, which took place in today’s Kansas City. It was a bloody battle that has been referred to as the “Gettysburg of the West.” Also close to Country Club Plaza is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The impressive Beaux-Arts styled museum features work by Winslow Homer, John Singleton Copley, and Childe Hassam and includes a modern wing and large badminton birdies on the front lawn.
Lawrence, Kansas, is about a 45-minute drive from Kansas City, Missouri. It is a fun college town with plenty of shops and restaurants as it is the home of the University of Kansas. Jayhawk statues and “Rock Chalk,” Kansas’s athletic chant, are ubiquitous in town. Lawrence has an impressive farmers market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Famous Alumni:
George Brett, Bo Jackson, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza, David Cone, Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Johnny Damon, Kendrys Morales, Jermaine Dye, Vince Coleman, Dan Quisenberry, Cookie Rojas
Kauffman Stadium: Did you know?
Nolan Ryan pitched his first no-hitter at Kauffman Stadium as a member of the California Angels
For more baseball Backyard Road Trips try reading: Craft Beer and Baseball Cards, Kent’s Point in Orleans, MA and From a Miata ’06
