At a time when other cities were building cookie-cutter, multipurpose sports facilities Ewing Kauffman went against the trend to build Royals Stadium, a spectacular home for the team that was decades ahead of its time. Fans in one of the sport’s smallest markets responded by filling the stadium, topping the magic two-million attendance mark a total of ten times and seven seasons in a row.
Opened as Royals Stadium on April 10, 1973 as part of the Harry Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, the stadium is recognized throughout baseball as one of the game's most beautiful ballparks. Designed by HOK Sport architects in Kansas City, the Royals' home incorporated the best of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium, with 40,793 seats, all facing second base and arranged in three tiers. The stadium's prominent features include water fountains beyond the outfield fence and a 10-story high scoreboard shaped like the Royals crest, topped by a gold crown. The 322-foot wide water spectacular is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. The stadium featured an artificial surface, and Royals management begins to build a team around speed and pitching. In 1995 a grass field replaced the artificial turf surface.
Ewing Kauffman made his last public appearance at the stadium on May 23, 1993, when he was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. The facility was officially renamed in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993.
In 2007 the Royals announced that Kauffman Stadium would be extensively renovated by Opening Day 2009. This includes a high definition scoreboard, fountain view terraces, widened concourses on all three levels and an outfield concourse that will allow fans to walk 360 degrees around the stadium.
Kauffman Stadium Trivia
- Kauffman Stadium is the only stadium in the American League named in honor of a person.
- Kauffman Stadium was the sole baseball-only facility built in the majors between 1962 and 1991.
- Academy Award Winning Actor Chris Cooper, who grew up in Kansas City, attended the University of Missouri, and narrated the documentary of Ewing Kauffman's life story, was on the construction crew that built Kauffman Stadium.
- Fountains beyond the outfield fence are on display before and after the game and in-between innings, while the waterfalls are constantly flowing.
- A construction strike delayed the opening of the Stadium and Kauffman added money to make sure it would open in time for the 1973 season and the 1973 All Star game.
- Kauffman Stadium is the eighth oldest stadium in Major League Baseball.
