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Kauffman Stadium Renovation / 2010
With a wrapaound outfield concourse, a high-definition scoreboard and smaller capacity of 39,000, the Kansas City Royals and Jackson County are poised to begin the $250-million makeover of Kauffman Stadium, the team's home since 1973. While the general layout of the ballpark won't change -- it's always been one of the most pleasant places in the majors to take in a ballgame -- HOK Sport is building on the original Kivett and Myers design by adding a lot in terms of fan amenities. The concourses on all three levels in the grandstand will be widened. An outfield concourse will finally link the fan areas next to each foul pole. More picnic-style seating in the outfield.
In short, one of the great ballparks of the majors should be enhanced to provide what most baseball fans expect these days.
The basic seating bowl in the grandstand won't change. Instead, a whole new infrastructure will be built in back, allowing the team to widen concourses and add new concession stands and restrooms. HOK Sport's Earl Santee, who is overseeing the renovations, says the new ballpark will feature more concession lines and restrooms per fan than another ballpark in the majors.
The center-field scoreboard has been a signature item in the ballpark since it opened. The basic scoreboard shape will stay, but it will be upgrade to a full high-definition scoreboard.
Also staying: the signature water fountains in right field. However, the area in back of the water fountains will be expanded into a full concourse with plenty of seating and concessions, including Taste of Kansas City; plans for a sitdown restaurant there are still in the works. In left field, that area will open onto a kids' play area; a Royals Hall of Fame will also be expanded and located there.
To their credit, the Royals scaled back on some of the more controversial parts of their original renovation plan (listed below). an open-air pavilion beyond left field for game-day concerts was cut from the plan, as fan focus groups reacted poorly to the proposal and county officials objected to the feature. Seating capacity will be at 39,000 -- less than the current capacity of 40,793 -- but standing-room-only tickets will be available, so the Royals expect a slightly higher capacity for big games.
The work is slated to be finished before the 2010 season, but the work will begin after the of this season. The first changes, set to be open by the 2008 season, will include new bullpens and expanded luxury seating. Before the 2009 season, the new outfield plaza and scoreboard will be installed. A tax increase passed by Jackson County voters will contribute $225 million toward the renovations; the Royals will pay $31 million (up from the $25 million originally pledged by the franchise). Overseeing the construction: Walton Construction and Hunt Construction.
Here is our
coverage of the original announcement of the
Kauffman Stadium renovations.
(Click on the
image for a larger version.)
The Kansas City Royals
announced a new site development plan for Kauffman
Stadium. The new plan provides the first-ever
visual of the Royals' plans to create a 360-degree
entertainment atmosphere at the ballpark, with an
abundance of amenities geared toward families,
groups and individuals.
"While all areas of the transformed Kauffman
Stadium are important to our ability to serve and
entertain our fans, the main level concourse,
which now fully encircles the field, is the most
vital to our improvements," said Royals President
Dan Glass. "With a positive vote on April 4, the
main concourse will truly be one of, if not the
best, in all of baseball."
The new outfield entertainment area will include
plazas in both left and right field, with
fountains in both areas. The right field plaza
will house a restaurant and a banquet facility
overlooking the stadium's famous fountains, while
the left field plaza will house a Royals Hall of
Fame, Kids Zone with interactive game stations and
a "Taste of KC" food court. Both outfield plazas
will have rooftop party decks where fans can view
the game. The two plazas will be connected by an
800-foot long Royals "Main Street," featuring the
Royals Walk of Fame, highlighting the Royals proud
history.
The outfield plaza will contain a new Royals
Pavilion beyond centerfield which will host pre-
and post-game family entertainment events, some of
which will occur on select Jackson County Days.
The Royals have committed to give each household
in Jackson County two 50 percent off ticket
coupons per year, with the coupons valid for one
of six Jackson County Days/Nights at the ballpark
each season. The Royals will provide such
discounts to Jackson Countians for the full
25-year term of the new lease, with a total value
of the coupons, over the term, exceeding $50
million.
(Click on the
image for a larger version.)
Fans will also have an opportunity to enjoy new
"Fountain Seating" in locations behind the left
field fountains and over the current bullpen
locations. Bullpens would be located in the more
traditional locations on the field, in foul
territory on the first base (home) and third base
(visitor) sides.
The plan also includes state-of-the-art video
presentation, including out-of-town scoreboards,
facia boards and a new outfield video board, twice
the size of the current screen in left field. The
additions will not be limited to within the
stadium, however, as the the exterior will be
transformed by the removal of asphalt and the
inclusion of expanded landscaping and decorative
walkways.
"Our enhanced facilities will create a
first-class, family-oriented environment
comparable to the new state-of-the-art ballparks
around the country," said Mark Gorris, Senior Vice
President of Business Operations. "The Royals
mission is to create a 'park within a park,' one
that will not only help preserve baseball in
Kansas City, but also make our citizens proud."
(Click on the
image for a larger version.)
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
LEFT FIELD PLAZA:
"Taste of K.C." -- A food court, featuring some of
Kansas City's renowned eating attractions,
including barbecue.
Hall of Fame -- The new hall of fame will feature
significant improvements to the team's hall of
fame, including team artifacts, historical items
and walk-through exhibits.
Sluggerrr's House -- The Royals youngest fans can
come and tour baseball's favorite mascot's living
quarters, complete with a family history.
Interactive Kids Entertainment -- The location
will also feature a miniature golf course, batting
cages, speed pitch cages and video games.
An exciting water feature will be the focal point
of the plaza area.
RIGHT FIELD PLAZA:
Public Restaurant -- A great option for fans for
pre- to post-game dining with a great view
overlooking the stadium. The building will include
party decks allowing fans to watch the game from
the roof top.
Hospitality/Banquet Facility -- A multi-purpose
facility for large groups, conventions or
pre/post-game events.
As in left field, there will be an exciting water
feature as the focal point of the plaza area.
CENTER FIELD ENTERTAINMENT:
Royals Pavilion -- This new entertainment location
will provide a facility that is perfect for
pre-game or post-game family entertainment events
with Kauffman Stadium providing the scenic
backdrop.
Royals Walk of Fame - An 800-foot walkway will
connect the left field and right field plazas,
giving fans the chance to stroll along this
street-lantern decorative lane. The street will
provide a viewing of historical reminders of the
Royals past, beyond the significant improvements
to the right field Hall of Fame. The enhancements
will also include a link to Kansas City's own
national treasure, the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum.
MAIN CONCOURSE:
Wider Concourses -- The average width of the main
level concourses will increase from an average of
20 feet to 40 feet.
More Food - Significantly more concession stands
and greater variety of local foods themes will be
added
More Shops -- Numerous retail stores throughout
the 360 degree main level will make it easier for
fans to purchase team merchandise.
UPPER DECK:
Wider Concourses - Increase width of concourse,
while increasing the number of concession stands
and restrooms.
Going Down? - Fans in the upper deck won't feel
left out of the new outfield entertainment areas
as they will have easy access via new escalators
on the wings of the upper deck.
NEW SEATING:
Fountain Seats -- A total of approximately 2,500
seats in the outfield corners will be added in
positions currently occupied by the team bullpens.
Included among the new seats will be a splash zone
behind the left field fountains.
GRAND ENTRANCE:
Come on In - The front door of Kauffman Stadium
will look dramatically different as the current
offices are replaced by a grand, open entrance
into the ballpark. The entry will include larger
ticket offices, which will decrease wait time in
will call lines.
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