History of Kauffman Stadium

The Kansas City Royals will celebrate their 52nd season at Kauffman Stadium in 2024. Kauffman has always been one of the crown jewel ballparks of Major League Baseball. Having hosted 87,336,434 fans since 1973, The K has proudly stood the test of time.

Opened as Royals Stadium on April 10, 1973, Kauffman is recognized throughout baseball as one of the game's most beautiful ballparks. Since then, many exciting games have been contested, including the 1973 and 2012 All-Star Games, three no-hitters, playoff games in 1976, '77, '78, '80, '81, '84, '85, 2014 and '15 with 13 World Series tilts in 1980, 1985, 2014 and 2015. The facility was officially renamed in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993.

The renaming of the stadium was appropriate in that it was the strength and integrity of Ewing M. Kauffman's ownership that provided the cornerstone for the Royals success. Kauffman purchased the club as an expansion franchise in 1968 with the primary and continuous motivation of providing winning Major League Baseball for Kansas Citians.

Kauffman, who founded Marion Laboratories in his mother's basement and built it into a diversified health care company with sales reaching nearly one billion dollars, possessed a sense of daring and an innate ability to motivate those around him. "Mr. K" also gave much personal attention to the Kansas City community, an important philosophy that was ingrained into the Royals organization and still remains today.

Among the awards Mr. Kauffman won for his leadership include the Kansas City Press Club's 1973 Man of the Year, an induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and being named one of 20 finalists for enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. Mr. K passed away on August 1, 1993.

Updates to The K

Prior to the 1999 campaign, additional field level seating, known as "Crown Seats" and four dugout suites were added.

Before the 2004 season, the outfield fences in the gaps and in straight-away center field were moved back 10 feet to their original dimensions of 387 and 410, respectively, making Kauffman Stadium one of the most spacious parks in Major League Baseball. In addition, the warning track was changed to a natural surface, and the height of the fence is now at eight feet. The fences were moved in 10 feet from bullpen to bullpen prior to the 1995 season and lowered from 12 feet to nine feet. Also at that time, a grass playing field replaced the artificial surface at Kauffman Stadium.

After years of planning and design, the Royals unveiled an exciting $250 million renovation of this true Kansas City landmark prior to the 2009 season. Visitors enjoy an improved Kauffman Stadium experience with unsurpassed amenities and state-of-the-art technology that touches each and every fan entering the park.

Upon entering, fans have a chance to explore the stadium via a 360-degree expanded concourse while still keeping tabs on the action on the field. With 74 concession stands and 67 restroom facilities, time spent away from their seats is limited.

Kauffman Stadium's unique features include a 322-foot wide water spectacular. The water spectacular opened as the largest privately funded fountain in the world. In keeping with the architecture of the stadium, the existing water spectacular featuring cascading water now extends near the left field corner.