1 Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129 (8/16/2018) – CB
Next city: Kansas City. A land where the glorious smell of barbecue is only topped by its fall-off-the-bone flavor. The aroma of Blackburne Mud, beer and sausage is not far behind. Kauffman Stadium is the destination, located in a city that is as deep in baseball tradition as any city in the Midwest. Seeing the Royals in their home is kind of like a homage to the dawn of my life, seeing a game in a city with an underrated passion of my national pastime, in the building where the home team won their 1st World Series on the day I was born (Hint: Not the recent one in 2015). Read with enjoyment, some spicy sauce and a Wet-Nap.
Game Time! (vs. Toronto Blue Jays – 8/16/2018): After a evening of gluttony at Gates, we rolled our way to the Truman Sports Complex anticipating a little rain, and hopefully 9 innings of ball. I strolled into the Royals Hall of Fame to escape the humidity, and absorbed knowledge on the impact the game has had on the City of Fountains. Free entry and central air also does well for business. After my ritualistic pre-game stroll, the skies weren’t too promising. About 2 hours of bolts buckets threatened to wash away my Kauffman experience, making me ponder of possible ways to revisit Kansas City, via another future arena excursion. Mercifully, the rain let up, and the couple of thousand waterlogged spectators remaining had a chance to enjoy baseball in dark skies. Close to half of the spectators were Blue Jay fans, and if they had come from Canada, I don’t blame them for their tenacity or perseverance. I too, had a 3-hour flight to the Midwest to see the final game of this series. I was going to end my night with a continental breakfast if I had to. Even with the buckets of rain that fell prior, I did not regret my aqua-air conditioned investment of bleacher seats in front of the fountains. After all, the humidity lingered with us, and I’m sure the players on the field, who were at that point in the season just playing for a paycheck based on where they were in the standings. But if GordoNation (RIP) can keep the fervor alive, there was no excuse for me to ride back into Independence without putting in my 9 innings, wet seats and all.
Around the Diamond: Umm. Hmm. Well…if you are like Brennan Huff and Dale Doback, you would love the plentiful space for activities! Other than the two stadiums located at the complex, there is not really anything to do or see after the game. I know I also was robbed of a tailgating experience due to Mother Nature’s plans. Then again, surrounded by highway with no other walkable attractions nearby, the dearth of watering holes and late-night munchie carts may win out as the wiser idea. If you would like to pay homage to the AFC, you may stop over to Lamar Hunt’s statue, situated outside the Chiefs’ home at Arrowhead Stadium. So, that’s something. If you do make the trek downtown, a visit to the Negro League Museum at historic 18th and Vine is a must for any sports or history buff.
Home Runs: Kauffman Stadium is one of the more kid-friendly parks around. The Outfield Experience offers an eclectic package of a carousel, a playground, a mini-golf green and areas where the kids can make Sluggerrr proud by hitting, running and pitching their way to sharper attention spans. Or maybe an early nap. Either way, an easier night for the parents. As the fourth oldest baseball stadium, The K is an important historic relic of baseball in a city where Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige played professionally, and was the city of the Athletics’ franchise’s second home in their almost 120 years of existence. Located within its walls is arguably one of the most appeasing yards around, with the color-changing fountains meshing harmoniously with the blue-seated backdrop. Maybe due to the recent performance of the club, getting a cheap ticket for a good seat in the secondary market is more than a guarantee. However, in speaking with a couple of the locals, the spectator experience had increased in cost over the last several years due to hosting an All-Star Game and 2 World Series.
Fly Outs: Unless you are enthralled by the quantity and possibly quality of the modern parking lot (I wouldn’t know), there’s not much to enjoy outside the ballpark. Okay, there’s actually nothing to enjoy. There are sporadic tailgaters here and there, but the pregame hoopla of the the downtown ballpark is about as nonexistent as Chris Gaines’s award collection (Never forget!). Being 7.5 miles from downtown doesn’t help the scene much either, unless frolicking on I-70 is what you live for. There have been recent talks of moving the club downtown, which could boost attendance for a team that has been in the bottom-third of attendance in the American League 16 times since the year Y2K bunkers started aging real poorly. However, with the lease not expiring in over a decade, and competitive real estate near the hustle and bustle, a new park will be stashed away as a future luxury. Right along with the flying cars we still haven’t received from movies 50 years ago.
The Final Play: The K is a park that definitely catches, then soothes the eyes with how the blues mesh with the natural Bermuda grass. I also appreciated the rebelliousness it represented, a baseball-only facility built in a time when multi-sport facilities and cookie cutters were the norm. I feel like I had a bit of a diminished experience due to the deluge, and with two clubs going nowhere that season battling out in front of the same quantity of people that admitted to watching Wild Wild West…and enjoying it. However my appreciation for the venue as a city icon didn’t lessen. Hate to get back at this, but if they were able to create a few pockets of lively ambiance on the outskirts, it would definitely enhance the non-game experience. It doesn’t have to be Patriot Place (Sorry, Chiefs fans. I know it’s still too soon). However it would be exciting to have a rib joint or two for a pre-game meal, or create a micro version of what is in South Philadelphia. Or maybe they can bring back the petting zoo and the mechanical rabbit that was present at the old Municipal Stadium!
Well, now you know!: Fenway isn’t the only baseball venue that’s lucky enough to contain a red seat. All seats in Kauffman Stadium are painted in Royal blue, with the exception of one seat in Section 127, Row C, Seat 9. The seat is dedicated to the honor of Negro League and overall baseball legend Buck O’Neill, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1938 -1947 and was a scout for the Royals. But no random spectator can just go on SeatGeek and claim ownership for the night. Members of the local community who embody the spirit of the late O’Neill get nominated to receive the honor to take a seat on the padded perch and enjoy the game how Buck would’ve.
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