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Kauffman Stadium itinerary by Wise Guides

Kansas City may not compare to New York or Boston or Chicago for urban grit and excitement, but KC does provide a great setting to combine a bit of baseball history and some of the best barbeque anywhere with a trip to the ballpark. ... Start downtown at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Read about how the league was born in Kansas City and it's many great players like Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs before being signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. ... The museum is located in the historic 18th and Vine district alongside the American Jazz Museum. If you've got time, go there, too, and learn about another great American pastime. ... After the museum(s), head down the block to Arthur Bryant's Barbeque and get some of their legendary KC barbeque to go. Pack it in the car and hop on the George Brett Superhighway (I-70) to the park, and get there early to do some tailgating. Kauffman Stadium is surrounded by parking lots, so you'll be joined by many Royals fans doing the same. ... The K (previously Royals Stadium) opened in 1973 and has always been a good place to watch a game, and a just completed $250 million renovation has only enhanced that. New 'Fountain Seats,' in front of the world's largest privately funded fountain are one of the highlights, as well as a new restaurant, Rivals. ... If you skipped the tailgate or simply didn't get enough barbeque, another local favorite, Gates, has a stand inside the park at section 122. It goes well with a locally brewed Boulevard Beer. And leave room for regionally famous Sheridan's Frozen Custard. ... KC is also known for steak, so if you're still hungry when the game ends, head back downtown to the Hereford House or one of the city's other steakhouses. ... For a nightcap, hit the nearby 12 Baltimore Bar at the downtown Hotel Phillips.

More info at Wise Guides

Kansas City Royals - User Comments Add your own

Nothing To Do Around Kaufmann -- 2007-03-30

I've been to a few MLB ballparks and the best experiences have been where there are things to do before and after a game. St. Louis, Wrigley Field. Kauffman is a good place to watch a game, but nothing to do in the vicinity after or before a game.

Tom O'Sullivan

The Good and Bad of the K -- 2002-07-12

I may be biased, I'm a lifelong Kansas City native

Good: Price! Cheapest seats in MLB. $5 for nosebleed tickets, $12 for decent seats.

Not a bad seat in the house. Field is very visible from all angles.

Great food. Gates BBQ, huge brats with onions and kraut, fresh made pizza, funnel cakes, chili cheese fries, and Boulevard Beer all at reaosnable prices. Check out the "lemonade, lemonade" guy.

Fountains are beautiful, sit out in right field bleachers if you can on a hot day and the fountains will cool you off occasionally. Back in the day, Royals relievers would hose you off from the pen.

Fireworks after every Friday evening game.

Parking, access: parking is $7, but plenty exists. Traffic takes no more than 10 minutes.

Really cool kids baseball field in right field.

Bad:

You get what you pay for, a lousy team.

Location: The Sports Complex is in the middle of nowhere.

Merchandise shop sucks. You can't find any of the good products there.

Out of town scores only provide score and pitcher, no more information.

Next to impossible to see the large scoreboard from left or right field bleachers on a sunny day.

Organ music is kinda dopey. All music hails from before 1988.

On base average, slugging percentage, not listed among player profile statistics.

Max Rieper

GREAT ATMOSPHERE -- 2001-09-19

THIS SUMMER I WENT TO KAUGHMAN STADIUM, THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE OK TO SEE ANEW BALLPARK. I DIDNT THINK TO MUCH OF SEEING IT ON T.V, I MEAN IT LOOKED OK AND EVERYTHING. WHAT I FOUND WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE TO SEE A MAJOR LEAGUE GAME. THERE WAS GREAT FOOD, THE FOUNTANS, BIG SCOREBOARD. IT FELT LIKE BASEBALL, AND THE FEILD LOOKED GREAT.

VAUGHN PIKE

Try the 'Club Box' seats -- 2001-06-12

The Club Box seats are located between the lower and upper decks, in the same ring as the private boxes and press box. As such, they're covered by the upper deck. There's not a ton of people around you there, and the seats are cushioned.

It's a great place for families because you're out of the sun. With my wife and mother-in-law there, the shade kept them comfortable enough for us to stay for all 11 innings. If we'd left early, we'd have missed Ichiro's two late at-bats as a defensive replacement.

If you have to be close to the action, this isn't for you. But the view is good enough, and the comfort can't be beat for the price. We paid $19 each for the tickets.

David Lair

Great stadium -- 2001-06-11

I've been to 23 current Major League Baseball stadiums, including Fenway, Wrigley, and Camden Yards. While they are all good, this place is the best. Every seat is good. You don't sit with your head crooked to the left/right. No obstructed views. And the fountains are actually a nice touch. And some of the best ballpark food I've ever had.

Stephen Magill

Still one of the best. -- 2001-06-10

Kauffman is still one of the best stadiums in the majors. The fountains are not only beautiful, they are functional. There is nothing like a cool breeze coming off the fountains on a hot summer day.

The only thing I would change is the seemingly endless number of people they bring out before every game to throw the ceremonial first pitch. I thought there could only be one first pitch?

Bob Gilmore

Royals / Kauffman Stadium -- 2001-06-08

This is still a great place to watch a game. I attended the first game played here in April on 1973. Was just at the park Tues. June 5th for a game. Have attended many games 1973-1985 when I lived in K.C. Good : Great food now, Gates Bar-b-que Torry's pizza, Boulevard Beer Real grass playing surface No bad seats in the park

Bad : Terrible fake organ, cheezy music Never ending "Baseball Follies" on the giant video screen. Uninterested yuppie "fans"

Like so many things in baseball, this isn't what it used to be but still a good time for a real fan.

Chris O'Shea

Chris O'Shea

I agree with Dean -- 2001-06-04

The whole Harry S. Truman Complex was ahead of its time. Back in the days of multi-purpose concrete ashtrays like Three Rivers, Riverfront, the Vet, and Busch, the idea of building baseball-only and football-only stadiums and make them easily assessible from the interstate was sheer genius. Both Arrowhead and Kauffman are ahead of their time. The placing of the 42 on the fountain was the best way (besides Minnesota) of honoring Jackie Robinson. And the crowning touch of the Kauffman and Arrowhead was getting rid of the fake turf, though the astroturf warning track has to go.

David Bryant

Still Beautiful after all these years! -- 2001-05-25

Its hard to believe that Kauffman stadium is over 25 years old! It is as clean and beautiful as it was in the 70's. The fountains are especially beautiful after a night game. If you're making a tour of major league parks, don't miss this gem!

Dean

Home of the Golden Cow -- 2001-05-22

This park was way ahead of its time. A very friendly confines, but I always thought fountains belong in zoos. Best to go when the Royals stink , which is most of the time.

Terry

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