Kauffman Stadium
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History
In 1968, Ewing Kauffman purchased the Kansas City Royals expansion team and on April 10, 1973 the Royals inaugurated Royals Stadium with a win over the Texas Rangers.
On May 15, 1973, barely a month into the stadium's existence, saw the first exciting game at the new stadium. Nolan Ryan, pitching for the California Angels threw his first of seven no-hitters, blanking the Royals, 3-0.
On July 24, 1973, Royals Stadium hosted its first (and so far, only) Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It hosted its first ALCS in 1976, and its first World Series in 1980. In 1985, Royals Stadium saw the Kansas City Royals defeat the St. Louis Cardinals for the only world championship it has hosted.
On July 2, 1993, Royals Stadium was renamed Kauffman Stadium in honor of Ewing Kauffman, who died the following month at the age of 76.
Improvements to Kauffman Stadium, On April 4, 2006, Jackson County voters approved a 3/8% sales tax increase to fund plans to renovate the Truman Sports Complex. The construction is planned to begin in 2008, and the stadiums are projected to be renovated by the year 2010, depending upon cost overruns. The team committed to a lease that will keep them in Kansas City until 2030, an extension of their current lease expiration of 2015. Projected improvements to Kauffman stadium include:
- Create a 360º concourse.
- Move bullpens to left field and right field foul lines.
- Add 1,500 new seats “fountain view seats” in left field.
- Structural modifications and improvements.
- More fan amenities; restrooms, concession, retail, concession and retail storage areas.
- Double concession and restrooms.
- New ticket offices.
- Renovate press box.
- Renovate and expanded Luxury Suites.
- New food court.
- Increase number of restroom facilities.
- Providing better access to all fans to all levels with more elevators and escalators.
Also, since this measure passed, MLB has stated that Kauffman Stadium will host the MLB All-Star Game some time between 2011 and 2014.
A second proposal on the April 2006 ballot would have installed a rolling roof at the Truman Sports Complex. The roof would have been able to cover Kauffman Stadium, then be moved to Arrowhead Stadium when applicable. The measure failed at the polls, and although supporters say they'll bring it up again in the future, support for the plan has mostly evaporated.
External links
| Preceded by: Municipal Stadium 1969–1972 | Home of the Kansas City Royals 1973–present | Followed by: Current |
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