Stadium renovations

by RoyalsRetro on May 21, 2007 10:23 PM EDT Comment 31 comments

The Royals today unveiled final designs for the renovations to Kauffman Stadium.

They have scrapped the 9,500 seat amphitheater that was to have been outside the stadium. They have also thankfully scrapped the bullpens along the foul lines. Instead, the stadium appears to have:

-Bullpens parallel to the outfield wall, but about half the size of what they are now. Additional seats will take up the rest of the room.
-Wider concourses
-Promenade beyond the outfield seats, with a restaurant, Slugger's Lairrr, the Royals Hall of Fame, and possibly other fan amenities
-Eliminated Jumbotron. The Crown Scoreboard will be fitted with HD screens.
-More bathrooms per seats than any other MLB stadiums

The Royals also agreed to cover the costs of the video equipment they previously requested, and they kicked in an additional $6 million. They plan to begin construction this October, and be done by spring 2010.

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Spring 2001?

or 2010?

If you were a hotdog would you eat yourself? I know I would!

by greggagneHOF on May 21, 2007 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2001

Much of the costs are in building a flux capassiter to make time travel possible and complete the stadium in 2001.

Edit: I have changed the diary.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 21, 2007 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the extra 6 million

was for a Delorian. LOL I really have to stop. That's weird what they're doing with the bullpens. I agree it's a better move though. I must say that I will miss the jumbotron though. Good info.

by royaldaddy on May 21, 2007 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will there be smaller screens...

in left and right field? From the photo's it looks like there might.

If you were a hotdog would you eat yourself? I know I would!

by greggagneHOF on May 21, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Our new mantra

"More bathrooms per seats than any other MLB stadiums"

So we'll lead the majors in toilets per capita...small steps

by chukar on May 21, 2007 6:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

considering the only game I've ever been to

that had bathroom line issues was that Friday massive turnout against the Twins....uhm....

I got bored...sue me

by loyal2theroyals on May 21, 2007 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't make this stuff up

I went to the Royals web to learn more about the renovations. I found this:
Opening Day 2008
Completed areas:
New Bullpens
Expanded dugout seating
Expanded crown seating
**Expanded vomitories to field level concourse**

Now, I'll admit my knowledge of architecture is limited, but I thought this had to be a very unfortunate mistake. You know, a vomitory is where we fans go to purge ourselves after an Angel Berroa at bat, or an Emil Brown adventure in outfielding. Nice to know they're thinking of our comfort.

Well, I thought I'd better go to wikipedia to be sure, and what do you know:

"A popular misconception is that the Romans made use of a room called a vomitorium for the express purpose of vomiting between meals to make room for more food. Only a very small minority of the highest classes indulged in the practice of deliberately vomiting. A vomitorium is actually an entirely unrelated architectural feature - a passage situated below or behind a tier of seats in an amphitheatre, an exit through which the crowds could "spew out" at the end of a show."

That last part about crowds "spewing out" at the end of the show seems pretty accurate for the fan reaction on a typical night leaving the K. Live and learn.

by chukar on May 21, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good and bad

I think I'll like the new Crown Scoreboard will be good. I never much liked the Jumbotron. It seemed stuck there where it didn't belong. I love that the bullpens are still going to be beyond the OF wall. And it looks to me like they'll be the same size, just parallel to the wall, not perpendicular to it. The concourse beyond the OF and scoreboard looks good too.

However, I have no idea why they are increasing seating capacity by putting more seats in the OF. I think that only serves to clutter the Water Spectacular and take away from the beauty of the K. And, for the vast majority of games, it will just mean more empty seats.

by NYRoyal on May 21, 2007 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They're listing capacity at 39K

so apparently some seats are being eliminated.

I agree about the outfield seats. I've always liked the grass. Then again, they've yukked it up in recent years with the truck and advertising. That Watsons scroll is very distracting. Always makes me think about that big-boobed blonde girl in her bikini, and I lose my focus on the game.

by chukar on May 21, 2007 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I've always liked the grass"

before anyone can bust me on that one, no, not that kind of grass.

by chukar on May 21, 2007 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm excited about finally being able to catch...

a dinger out there, and on hot days that fountain water will feel good if there is a breeze. Plus there will still be grass in front of the new screen, so it all won't be gone.

If you were a hotdog would you eat yourself? I know I would!

by greggagneHOF on May 21, 2007 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

they are moving the press box to the upperdeck and making the club section all luxury boxes, so I think you're right..we are taking out seats.

by Stook on May 21, 2007 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

construction in October 2007?

Don't you mean November? We're all gonna be there watching them play Octoberball!

I got bored...sue me

by loyal2theroyals on May 21, 2007 7:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh my goodness

I love the new outfield area. I have to make a trip back. :)

-- A Pilgrim in an Unholy Land. (Seattle)

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 21, 2007 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Better than the original

plan. We'll have to see how it turns out. For some reason it sort of looks like Shea.

by Stook on May 21, 2007 9:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Renovations

look pretty cool. I second the motion for more bathrooms. The OF section looks really cool like a gathering place in the middle of the ballpark. Can't wait to see the finished product with a pennant contending team on the field, of course too.

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on May 21, 2007 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Macdougal v Lumsden

Off topic, but there's been concern about Lumsden being a bust and whether we should have given Mac for him. But Lumsden's been much better in his last 3 starts, with 2ER 17IP 14K.

Watching Mac lately he looks horrible, with no command, constantly pitching behind and getting hit. His season ERA is up to 6.19. His May #s are Welle-like, getting little work with just 6.2 IP 14H 6BB 5K 3.0 WHIP 10.8 ERA. I wonder if he's healthy. His velocity looked ok tonight. Their entire pen has been imploding. I don't root against Mac, but he is a Sox now and it does make me feel a bit better about the deal.

by chukar on May 21, 2007 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mac does look horrible

I watch a lot of Chisox games and MacDougal has looked horrible. On top of this, you can expect him to go on the DL sometime this year (make that every year). So, Lumsden is still a prospect and who knows what will come of him. Pitching prospects are always maybe's. But Lumsden still has some upside potential and is not a bust yet.

by NYRoyal on May 22, 2007 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by Stook on May 22, 2007 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Call me oldfashioned...

But all that crap in the outfield really junks up the clean and serene part of the K. IMHO, there are no worse additions to Kauffman than that Truck, the Jumbotron, and that insidious hot-tub.

It seems they could have added luxury boxes, eliminated some seats, and still added the 360 degree concourse without screwing up the sightlines of the stadium. One reason why everyone says "man, the Royals stink but there is no better place to watch a game than Kauffman." is how beautiful it is with the fountains and grass. Focus is placed on the field and information display (used to be) is centered. Play with that symetry and balance and I think you make a huge mistake--NY that is why the jumbotron always seemed out of place.

I'm not saying the stadium doesn't need upgrades, like wider concourses, b-rooms, luxury suites, and I like the fact that the Royals are spending a marginal amount of money to help it along, but pleeeeease don't for the sake of a few extra boulevards, t-shirts, and bleachers jack up a beautiful example of an actual baseball park.

by kjfinkes on May 22, 2007 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You took the words right out my mouth

The K will lose its unique "clean" look. Too bad. The truck and hot tub are already atrocious.

by chukar on May 22, 2007 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will we ever...

get rid of the advertising on the outfield walls? That's the thing I hate the most. It makes us look so minor league. I know other stadiums have advertising and I know there is a tradition in baseball going way back of using the outfield walls, but there is just something about it that makes me cringe...

by sfeldkamp on May 22, 2007 10:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Landscaping

So nice to see some green outside the stadium, it has had such an industrial look all these years with all the pavement surrounding.

by sprntern8 on May 22, 2007 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Where are they putting the golden statue..

of Angel Berroa?

by Pominville on May 22, 2007 12:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It looks pretty nice

I wonder how much it will cost to have that bi-plane with the banner fly around?

by marbotty on May 22, 2007 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

$132 million

The renovations themselves are actually quite cheap. Supplies can be had at Wal Mart for pennies on the dollar. Always low prices. Always.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 22, 2007 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know they could drop hot dogs from

the plane instead of shooting them out of a gun. Free beer if you catch a flying dog.

by grudz69 on May 22, 2007 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Color me unimpressed

$250 million for more bathrooms, more restaurants, and wider concourses? Am I the only one underwhelmed?

I also think it's dumb for the JaxCo politicians who bent over for the Royals and Chiefs to pretend to be upset about funding a video system, as if they're real concerned about getting a good deal for the taxpayers.

I was against the tax increase but thought that if they were going to spend $250 million, they should have just built a stadium downtown. But hey, if JaxCo wants to throw away $250 million to have more bathrooms at The K, go for it.

by Hippstar on May 22, 2007 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs