Kansas City Royals: Kauffman top 10 on Forbes list

Forbes magainze has come out with a list ranking all 30 MLB ballparks from first to worst. Kauffman Stadium landed eighth on that list.

This high ranking comes as no surprise to Royals fans who spend many summer nights inside Kauffman Stadium. Since it was first opened in 1973 the K, as it has came to be known, has been one of the most beautiful and modern stadiums in baseball.

The field has been maintained by one of the best grounds crew in baseball led by the legend Trevor Vance. Vance is going into his 33rd year with the Royals including 23rd as the Senior Director of Groundskeeping and Landscaping. George Toma named him the best groundskeeper in baseball today. That is the same Toma who mentored him until he left in 1994  and who has overseen the field of every Super Bowl. So when he says Vance is the best, that carries weight.

The field maybe the most pristine and well kept in the sport, but that’s just where it starts. Royals fans have one the best game day experiences in the league from the moment they arrive into the parking lot until they leave. Whether it’s football, soccer or baseball, KC is known for our tailgating. On a warm afternoon with the windows down you can smell that unmistakable tailgate sent from I-70.

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You pull into the spacious parking lot and witness thousands of fans enjoying the pre-game. Dads are playing catch with their sons while everything from burgers to ribs are being smoked and grilled. You can walk down the rows of cars and see everything from a new family with twin babies to the group of college guys to the elderly couple enjoying their 50th season of Royals baseball. No matter what anyone says about baseball, in KC, tailgating for a Royals game means just as much as it does for  a Chiefs game.

Once you get in the gates you are greeted by something almost every game. It could be the latest bobblehead, Dress to the Nines night or Buck Night.  The Royals always make sure to give you more than just a baseball game, they want you to come to the K for the entire experience and that starts the second you enter the gate.

You then make your way to your seat and realize there is not a bad one in the house. I can honestly say I’ve sat in every single section of that stadium, including the new areas added in the 2009. Every spot has something to offer and the view of the game is great from any of them. Whether it’s waiting for home runs sounded by fountains in the outfield, seeing the field up close in the lower level or getting to see all the action from the upper deck; no place makes you feel like you aren’t in the game.

Even without the game the Royals have one of the best fan experiences there is. They have one of the largest HD video boards in the world sitting out in center field. They have all the usual stuff: hot dog races, kiss cam  and kids dancing. In the outfield is the kids outfield experience with lots of fun games and areas for the little kids who find it hard to sit still for 3 hours. As a father with twin five year olds, I can tell you that those areas are a great way to burn some energy. The team has a ton of televisions out there so you never miss the action.

If you haven’t been to the Hall of Fame yet you are missing out. It’s a great experience and fun history, especially again for a father of young kids to teach them about the team I grew up watching. Get a picture with the World Series trophies or see the history of gloves and bats from the beginning of baseball as well as reliving the greatest moments in team history.

For the more adult oriented crowd there is the Craft and Draft area in the club level down the left field line. Anytime you can choose between over 75 bears and other drinks while enjoying a game you have to take that opportunity. If you’d rather do more of a sit down in a bar and grill type vibe, than go out to right field and find a spot in Rivals Sports Bar.

For those who think the K does too much outside of the baseball game with the kid areas and drinking spots, as the players if the fans still pay attention. Better yet, ask the opposing players how they feel inside the K in a big game. After attending multiple playoff games in 2014 and 2015, the K is the greatest home field advantage in baseball when the big games are ready. Actually the best person to ask is Robinson Cano, I’m sure he still has memories of #BooCano.

The fact is Kauffman Stadium deserves to be in the top 10 of any list dealing with MLB stadiums. The ease of getting in and out of the parking lot. The atmosphere in the parking lot. The entertainment around the stadium to the look of the field as you watch a game. It’s all top 10 from beginning to end. While some still want a downtown stadium, I will always take a warm night at the K over anything new any day.