Going to my first Royals game tonight... Tips on the K?

by cvigz on May 14, 2009 8:24 AM EDT

Hey folks,

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, feel free to delete it if so... I just moved to KC a couple of weeks ago from Lawrence and I'm going to my first live Royals game tonight - anything special I should know about parking/traffic/the stadium etc? I've been to a few Chiefs games and I'm guessing the traffic won't be as bad, but how early should we show up? Do people usually tailgate or anything before the game? What's the best food to eat at the stadium (and is it massively overpriced like Arrowhead? :))

Go Royals!

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My advice

Traffic isn’t too bad. It shouldn’t take you more than 30-40 minutes to get from anywhere in KC to the stadium. There should be a decent crowd tonight (its ladies night and they’re expecting 20,000 or so). For whatever reason, if you get off on I-70, EVERYONE files in the far right lane and waits in line. I don’t know why. The second-to-right lane just as easily gets you in the stadium, so pass all those lemmings and drive right into the stadium.

Parking is $9. No real getting around that. That’s what we get for putting a stadium in the middle of nowhere.

Many people will tailgate before the game, especially younger college aged fans. Inside the stadium are a number of food options now. You may want to hit “Rivals” sports bar, although I haven’t eaten there yet. Stroll the outfield area – it is really awesome now. The best food IMO is the Sheboygan sausage, but I couldn’t find it the last game I went to. They have some new stuff like tacos and BBQ. The food is overpriced, but not as bad as Arrowhead IMO.

Have a great time tonight! Hopefully we can get back to winning!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 14, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions

And this...

Parking is $9. No real getting around that. That’s what we get for putting a stadium in the middle of nowhere.

is probably the main reason that Glass wanted to keep it in the middle of nowhere. That and this…

You may want to hit "Rivals" sports bar

and this

The food is overpriced

"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae

"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie

by Sweep_the_Leg on May 14, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

$9 Parking?

I don’t understand why people complain about the parking prices at the K. Nine bucks is cheap compared to the prices you will see at downtown stadiums. $9 gets you parking 1/2 mile away here in Seattle, San Francisco was $25 bucks to park the same distance. Not only do you get to park for cheap, you get all the greatness of being surrounded by wonderful fans tailgating, an amenity rarely found in some of the downtown stadiums.

by Mr. Weatherstone on May 14, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not complaining about the price of parking...

merely pointing out that it is one of the big reasons why the Royals did not want a new stadium downtown—because they would lose out on the parking revenue. And some of the pre- and post-booze revenue, and maybe concession revenue…if there were actually any restaurants close to the stadium that fans could walk to either before or after the game. The Royals were well aware of those factors when deciding what they wanted to do about an aging Kauffman Stadium several years ago.

Parking would not even be an issue for many fans if a new stadium had been built downtown. According to the Downtown Council, there are 104,000 workers downtown and 17,000 residents. Many of whom could walk from their offices or apartments to the games and almost all of whom could take the bus or a short, cheap cab ride even if they weren’t within reasonable walking distance. Even for those who needed to drive, parking is cheap and abundant (compared to most other major cities) all over downtown. But the Royals wouldn’t be getting that revenue, so the stadium stayed where it is.

And personally, I’ve never really understood tailgating at baseball games. Tailgating is for football in my eyes. Most fans (i.e. families and older season-ticket holders with 9-to-5’s) don’t have the time to get to stadium 1-2 hours before first pitch, set up a grill, down 5-6 beers (or more), and take advantage of any tailgating opportunities. I would much rather have an urban stadium with more residual food/entertainment right outside the stadium, and all the sights, smells, and sounds that come with that experience. But I’m probably in the minority on that preference.

"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae

"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie

by Sweep_the_Leg on May 14, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

wait..what is wrong with tailgating for baseball?

and why do the restaurants matter if people cannot tailgate for baseball b/c they work until 5?

Fire Hillman

by billybeingbilly on May 15, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

There's nothing "wrong" with it...

I just think it pretty clearly works much better for football games. Football games are more of an “event.” There are fewer of them, and they happen (usually) during the weekend. It’s easier for most people to set aside a half (or full) day to load up the car/SUV, drive out to the stadium, park, set everything up and enjoy the atmosphere before a 12:00 or 3:00 gametime. With baseball, for the majority of the games, that’s just not as easy to coordinate for fans. There just isn’t enough time between work and games to truly enjoy a tailgate.

The restaurants/bars matter because for employees/residents downtown, it would be pretty easy to knock off work at 5, change, and then head over to a restaurant or bar before the game for an hour or two. And for post-game entertainment as well, unless you’d consider sitting in your car for 10-15 minutes waiting to get back to the highway as “post-game entertainment.” Not to mention, there are still a TON of surface parking lots (or open areas that could be turned into more surface lots) that the Royals could have purchased as part of the new stadium downtown. That would still have allowed people to tailgate.

"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae

"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie

by Sweep_the_Leg on May 15, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Heck

People tailgated for KC Brigade games, played downtown at Sprint Center

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 15, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

The Sheboygan bratwurst is gone as far as I can tell

It was replaced by a generic bratwurst that is half the length, but not half the price.

That being said, I don’t think the food is overly expensive. Comparing it to other ballparks, I’d say average to below average on cost. The “large” soda cup is a joke though. It used to be a bucket for $6, now you get maybe 20 oz for $5 and that’s if they don’t fill it to the top with ice first.

Parking for $9 is cheaper than anywhere else I’ve ever been. You can buy parking ahead of time inside the stadium for future games for $8. Boston has hourly rates from $5/hour to $40+. San Diego is $12, White Sox are $23. St. Louis has lots all around, but the stadium ramp is $15. So don’t tell me Glass is overcharging for parking.

by AxDxMx on May 14, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the point...or at least a point:

Which is accurate, is that the Royals are the recipients of the revenue, as opposed to downtown stadiums, there are a lot of other people that rake in a lot of that parking cash.

Now, two points of clarity: One, we have an amazingly affordable product, even now after the renovations. People that complain about ticket/parking prices are…either not looking hard enough, or would complain no matter what. You can bring food and water in the stadium, with that in mind, you can go and sit downstairs for less than the cost of the movies.

And secondly, I’d rather have a downtown stadium for a host of reasons, even though the K is ridiculously convenient for me personally. But the complaints about the New K, should not include prices.

There is only one soda now, and its $5 if you get the souvenior cup or $4 if you get the regular cup which is the same size. It is a rip off compared to the old one, especially if you’re used to bringing in a flask like myself, I find myself still just buying the one, but its much more stiff.

My biggest dissapointment with the Stadium is they didn’t go with local food like they mentioned originally. We’ll see if that changes, but I imagine they see the most revenue by going with Aramark

by kcsno56 on May 14, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

For my money

the best deal in the house is the Chicken Tender Basket. 3 big chicken strips and fries for like 7 and some change. Fills you up just as well or better than a hot dog and nachos or 2 hot dogs which is usually waht it takes to fill me up.

Definitely tailgate if you get the chance.

Find some time to go out and stand in the outfield “standing room only area” in right field. It is really cool and if it’s in the later innings you might even see some guys moving around in the bullpen.

Have fun and let’s hope that we can actually win a damn game.

by I need more Esteban on May 14, 2009 12:07 PM EDT reply actions

Chili Cheeze Fries, fills you up for the whole game

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on May 14, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Fills you up

Do you mean your stomach or your arteries?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 14, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

don't forget the toilet

If you were thinking, you wouldn't have thought that.

by Warden11 on May 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't worry, a little Boulevard Wheat is all it takes to clean out those pesky arteries.

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on May 14, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Depending on where you live and how you plan on getting there

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?cat=Kauffman+Stadium

those two entrances off of Raytown Road never have a line waiting to get in

Yeah? From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f@#%ing boat.

by BillyMojo on May 14, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

I second the above^

Raytown entrance if you can get around there is the way to go

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on May 14, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

If you are male,

you may have heard about the bathroom lines debacle.

If sitting downstairs, try entering the Vomitorium (lowest level), and then turn towards the outfield, regardless of whether you are on 1B or 3B side. There is a bathroom marked “family” that is tucked sorta behind the concession stands, and it is often unused because no one seems to know it is there, it isn’t easy to spot, and there are no signs.

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on May 14, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions