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A Guide to Experiencing Kauffman Stadium

Guest blogger MeLinda Schnyder shares tips for making the most of your trip to Kauffman Stadium.

My husband has seen a game in every current Major League Baseball park, and his favorite is still Kauffman Stadium, or The K. We live three hours away but regularly make day trips to see the Royals play—and several times a season we plan an overnight in Kansas City based on the Royals’ schedule.

The home of the 2015 World Champion Kansas City Royals  is special in many ways, from the beautiful and unique fountains in the outfield to the massive Crown Vision high definition scoreboard (the largest in the Majors) and excellent tastes of local barbecue and beer.

Kansas City is a baseball town, and you’ll love the fun atmosphere even more if you know the ins and outs of Kauffman Stadium.

Here’s my fan primer on getting the most out of your visit to The K:

Where to Sit

If money is no object, opt for the Bats Crown Club seating right behind home plate. It comes with all you can eat and drink, luxury style. But really, every seat at The K has a great view of the field. When I’m looking for lower priced seats, I opt for an outfield seat instead. The good news is that there are plenty of price points within the stadium and you can  take a look at the views  from various seating sections before buying tickets.

Things to know about tickets/parking:

You can buy tickets directly from the Royals online, via telephone or in-person at the box office. The Royals have a feature called dynamic pricing that shifts the prices of tickets based on supply and demand.

The Royals offer ticket discounts to military, seniors and students, plus a variety of special discount days that can be found on their ticketing website and by signing up for email notifications . One of my favorite ways to choose the game I want to attend is to look at the special Theme Nights – the ticket often comes with a giveaway like a bobblehead or a themed hat, or includes special activities, like a celebrity softball game before the Royals game.

If you decide to buy your tickets at the stadium on the day of the game, you can avoid lines at the ticket counter by using the self-service ticket kiosks.

Regular-season game parking is $15 for cars and motorcycles, $20 for oversized vehicles and $25 for RVs.

Getting into the Stadium

I learned a trick on my last visit to Kauffman Stadium: more often than not, the outfield gates open before the infield gates. You can get in the stadium, experience the museum, the features in the outfield or grab something to eat or drink; you just can’t get into the main seating bowl until the entire stadium has opened—usually about 90 minutes before game time. So instead of waiting in the long lines forming at the other gates, head to the left or right field gates and spend more time inside the stadium.

If you want really early access, buy an Early Bird Batting Practice ticket for $12 per person (ages 4 and up), available for select games with evening start times. You’ll get an exclusive view of batting practice from behind the dugout and you’ll get in one hour before regular gate opening times. Early Bird Batting Practice tickets can be purchased in advance at Royals.com, the main ticket office located near Gate C or the ticket windows located at Gate A (left field) 90 minutes before regular gate opening times.

What to do in the Stadium

The Kansas City Royals celebrate their 45th season at Kauffman Stadium in 2017, and, thanks to continuous renovations throughout the years, it is aging gracefully. You’ll soon find that there is so much to do at a Royals baseball game in addition to watching the actual game! 

Royals Hall of Fame Museum

The Royals Hall of Fame Museum is included in the cost of your game ticket and is open through the top of the eighth inning. This is a really special place and should not be missed. Many MLB ballparks charge for these types of museums.

The 7,000-square-foot museum in the left-field area opened in July 2009 and is much more than a plaque gallery of the 25 members of the Royals Hall of Fame. You can start in a dugout-style theater with a 15-minute film or jump straight into the gallery full of memorabilia. You’ll see the Royals’ 1985 and 2015 World Series Championship trophies, the 1980, 1985, 2014 and 2015 American League Championship trophies along with other artifacts, from Cy Young Awards to Rawlings Gold Gloves and other memorabilia from throughout Royals history.

If you’ve been through the museum before, you’ll still want to visit, because exhibits change season-to-season to highlight special moments in Royals baseball. This year, exhibits include a multimedia history of the All-Star Game, 2011 rookies and Gold Glove contenders.

There’s also a newly added tribute to the late Yordano Ventura, who passed away in January 2017. The exhibit includes Ventura’s jersey from his first postseason start against the Angels in 2014 and other items that honor the pitcher’s memory.

The Outfield Experience

The Hall of Fame museum is part of the  Outfield Experience , an area developed in 2009 to provide entertainment for all ages. Behind the Hall of Fame is a kids’ area with a miniature version of The K, a base run, batting and pitching cages, five holes of mini-golf and a Royals-themed carousel. You can pay for each activity or, on Family FunDay Sunday, you can buy an all-day pass for $10 per child. Every Sunday home game, the Royals host Family FunDay Sunday with pre-game entertainment on the Outfield Experience stage, face painters, caricature or balloon artists and a pre-game Royals autograph session. After the game, kids 14 and under can run the bases on the big league field for free.

Stadium tours

From a $17 legends tour to a $350 all-access tour that includes a Loge Level seat and $50 food voucher, fans can see as much of The K as they want on an official stadium tour. The tours must be booked in advance and typically run Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from April 4 to May 31, Tuesday through Saturday June 1 to Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Friday and Saturday Sept. 2 to 30. Check  MLB's Royals Tour Site  for tour descriptions.

What to Eat and Drink

Kauffman Stadium has a friendly policy for outside food and drink, but I sure wouldn’t want to miss the awesome food and drink options that I look forward to at a Royals game! They add items every year, and this year two of their new menu items were included in USA Today’s 10 craziest ballpark foods for the 2017 MLB season .

Concessions

Every Friday, from May through August, the concession stands offer hot dogs and peanuts for $1 each. One of the best deals in the entire ballpark is the $9 bucket of delicious buttered popcorn at Topsy’s , a long-time KC favorite. It’s a large bucket and comes with one refill.

If you want more than standard ballpark fare, there are specialty concession stands throughout the park, plus two restaurants. If you’re wanting to try KC-style barbecue, you’ll find it in salads, burgers, sandwiches and more.

No. 2 on USA Today’s list of 10 craziest foods for the 2017 MLB season: the pork patty melt, available at section 206. It’s a funnel cake topped with barbecue pulled pork, shredded cheese, fried onions, coleslaw and a jalapeno popper skewer. Also making that list is the Sunrise Dog, a hot dog with cheddar cheese, a fried egg and white sausage gravy available at sections 208 and 247.

Restaurants

The stadium’s restaurants include Rivals Sports Bar in right field and Craft & Draft on the Loge Level along the third base line. You can either stop in for food and drink (seating in the main restaurant area is open to all guests, first-come, first-served) or purchase tickets for seats connected to the restaurants.

Craft & Draft has more than 20 local and national craft beers on tap and another 50 bottled beers, along with a quick-fire artisan pizzeria, gastropub menu and a self-serve fountain drinks station.

Rivals Sports Bar was renovated before the 2017 season and offers The 360 Vodka Bullpen Bar and a sports bar area. The open-air bar has a large HD projection screen and a dozen 60-inch televisions. The menu features items such as a grilled ribeye steak sandwich, gourmet burgers and parmesan garlic street fries, as well as milkshakes and frozen cocktails featuring a variety of 360 flavored vodkas.

Take Home a Memory

If this is going to be your first visit to Kauffman Stadium, your child’s first baseball game ever or any other special occasion, the Royals have a few cool ways to commemorate the event. Stop by one of the two Guest Services locations for a free and official certificate.

You can also get a souvenir from the game itself: starting in the seventh inning of each game, you can purchase a game-used and authenticated ball at the Royals Authentics store. The balls start at $35 and are MLB authenticated . (Each game, an MLB designate logs what happens with each ball, bat, etc. in order to authenticate the equipment used in the game.)

The items come with tamper-proof holograms that include a number so you can lookup on MLB.com the documentation for your item. There are usually about 20 balls per game and they range from a double hit by Salvador Perez to a ball used to strike out a hitter or a ball thrown in the dirt by the starting pitcher.

The Royals Authentics store also sells other game-used items, including collectibles autographed by current and past Royals players. A portion of all proceeds will benefit Royals Charities.

The Royals have three designated areas for autograph seekers: Gate D truck gate for visiting team bus, the ramp behind player parking for Royals players and outside the Gate C lobby, behind the designated barricades. Another way to get autographs is during Signature Sundays every Sunday home game. Two Royals players will sign autographs from the top of the Royals dugout for approximately 20 minutes , beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m.

As you can see, there’s plenty to do before the excitement of the game starts. If you don’t want to miss the game, get to the ballpark early and enjoy the entire Royals experience!

MeLinda Schnyder

MeLinda Schnyder grew up in Columbia, Missouri -- putting her right in the middle of Cardinals and Royals country. Admittedly, she grew up in a Cardinals household but living in Wichita, Kansas, for the past 20 years means she's been to many more Royals games than Cards games. She blogs about travel and life at www.nextdoortonormal.com .

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Get a behind the scenes look at Kauffman Stadium! The K’ features iconic fountains, the Outfield Plaza, Royals Hall of Fame, interactive Kids Area and Rivals Sports Bar. A tour of this “Crown Jewel” of ballparks will take you to areas not normally open to the public, including the press box and dugout.

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Kauffman Stadium

By Edward de la Fuente

Our guide to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City includes information on events, tickets, parking, public transportation, nearby hotels and restaurants, seating, bag policy and more. Read on to find out how to get the most out of your gameday experience.

Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, is something of an anomaly in Major League Baseball ballpark circles — and something of an underappreciated gem.

“The K,” as Royals fans call it, is an older ballpark that looks modern, a large venue that feels intimate, a stadium built during the “cookie-cutter” era that manages to be unique. Indeed, it’s one of baseball’s more beautiful ballparks, but in an understated way, as it tends to get overlook amid its newer, flashier peers.

A renovation completed over a decade ago, one made in preparation for the Royals to host the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, helped transform Kauffman Stadium and give it a fresh look in both obvious and subtle ways. All of it went a long way toward enhancing the fan experience, which we’ll explore in the sections below.

The Royals’ longstanding doldrums and the stadium’s age likely kept it from ascending to the upper echelon of major-league parks in the minds of many, but the home team changed all that with a resurgence that culminated in a World Series title in 2015 — the franchise’s first in 30 years.

So Kauffman Stadium has a higher profile these days thanks to that success, but whether or not the Royals are thriving, the K has plenty to offer fans who give it a visit.

Still, the stadium’s days are likely numbered, as the team is planning the construction of a new ballpark in downtown Kansas City .

Looking for Kauffman Stadium event tickets? Search events on Ticketmaster .

Getting to Kauffman Stadium

In planning a trip to Kauffman Stadium, you’ll see right away that a few challenges await as far as getting there. The ballpark is not near anything of relevance except Arrowhead Stadium , right next door in what makes up the  Truman Sports Complex . Downtown Kansas City is  a good 7-8 miles away, and so is Country Club Plaza, a popular spot for hotels; what’s worse, no public transportation runs to Kauffman Stadium, not even special-event buses.

If you have a car at your disposal, getting there is easy enough. The Truman Sports Complex is located near the interchange between Interstate 70, which leads from downtown Kansas City, and I-435.

When approaching from the west, take I-70 eastbound to the Blue Ridge Cut-Off. As you’re exiting you’ll already see Kauffman Stadium to your right (and Arrowhead Stadium right behind it), and from there you can proceed to one of two entry gates on the right. There are other routes in via I-435 and Stadium Drive, but the first set of directions are the simplest for those unfamiliar with K.C.

Beyond driving, there aren’t many other reliable methods to get to the game. Taxis and rideshares have a dedicated lane on the stadium’s first-base side and do a brisk business. On a visit several years back, we took advantage of a hotel shuttle to Kauffman Stadium (in fact, it was the reason we chose to stay at this hotel) but the hotel has since rebranded and no longer offers the service.

Parking at Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium is virtually surrounded by parking lots, divided and assigned a letter. More significantly, for Royals games the lots are designated as either West or East, and cars aren’t allowed to cross from one to the other.

So if you’re particular about which parking lot you choose at Kauffman Stadium in relation to where in the stadium you’re sitting (ie. if your ticket is for a seating area on a specific side), you’ll want to pay attention to these distinctions and plan your route into the stadium accordingly. If you don’t mind a little extra walking, the rules don’t matter as much.

General parking rates at Kauffman Stadium are currently $15, and most general lots are closer to Arrowhead Stadium, with the handful of spaces closest to the ballpark reserved for premium permits. Follow the link for parking information at the Truman Sports Complex, including a parking map and a portal to purchase advance permits.

Kansas City hotels near Kauffman Stadium

• Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Stadium – 0.1 miles away • Best Western Premier Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel – 0.2 miles away • WoodSpring Suites Kansas City Stadium – 0.4 miles away Search for more Kansas City hotels on Booking.com .

Map of Kansas City and surroundings

Things to do around kauffman stadium.

The other disadvantage of the ballpark’s location is that there’s precious little to do in the immediate vicinity. There are a handful of hotels and quick-bite restaurants across the Blue Ridge Cut-Off and on the other side of Interstate 70, but they’re not really attractions that fall into the can’t-miss category when visiting Kauffman Stadium.

However, if you have come to Kansas City specifically to see a Royals game, you could stay at one of the nearby hotels and simply walk to Kauffman Stadium, saving yourself the hassle of renting a car.

Royals fans can, and do, tailgate before games. In the land of fine barbecue, it’s an appealing option — especially if you’re part of a fairly large party — to pick up some food from one of K.C.’s many terrific barbecue joints as well as a few beers, drive to Kauffman Stadium early and hang out beforehand in the parking lot.

Other than that, though, there’s not much else to do but head inside.

For more on visiting Kansas City, check out our Kansas City sports travel guide .

Kansas City restaurants near the ballpark

• Denny’s – diner, 0.3 miles away • Taco Bell – fast food, 0.4 miles away • Casey’s Bar – pub, 0.5 miles away Search for more Kansas City restaurants on Tripadvisor .

Watching a game at Kauffman Stadium

What The K lacks in surroundings, it makes up for in features — most prominently, the fountains and waterfalls beyond the fence in left-center and right-center fields.

These fountains, a tribute to Kansas City’s status as the  “City of Fountains” (and if you want to know why it’s called that, just drive around town a bit), have always been the feature that sets Kauffman Stadium apart, but before its renovation, they were just something to gawk at from your faraway seating area when nothing was happening on the field. Not anymore.

Since 2009, when a new concourse, added seating and party porches were built amongst them, the fountains have been an integral part of the experience of attending a game at Kauffman Stadium, and they truly make the difference between Just Another Ballpark To See Major League Baseball and Must-See Ballpark For Any Traveling Baseball Fan.

Regardless of where your seating area is, it’s worth it to spend some time pregame (or even during the game) walking around the outfield to get the full Kauffman Stadium experience. The Royals Hall of Fame is located in left field, and in center field you can see statues of franchise legends George Brett and Frank White, manager Dick Howser, and former owner Ewing Kauffman (for whom the stadium is named) and his wife Muriel.

You can get up close to the fountains in meaningful ways, too. No, you can’t wade in them , but you can lean up against the railing and watch the game while the fountains are bubbling in front of you — what other major-league ballpark offers that?

Also, if it’s a hot and humid summer day, head down to the right-field party porch and stand close to the fountains behind you when they shoot off (usually between innings). The resulting mist will be the best feeling you’ll have all day.

You can also get a close look at the giant vertical scoreboard in center field, shaped like the Royals’ logo — another distinctive feature of the stadium — as well as survey some of the concessions options (more on that below).

Kauffman Stadium’s seating bowl itself is pretty distinctive, starting from the upper level that tapers as it reaches the outfield. Despite being built in the era of concrete cookie-cutter stadiums, the K doesn’t have that sort of feeling — perhaps the most obvious sign that it’s from that era are the ramps that you use to go from level to level, including the two circular ones on either side of home plate.

Food and drink at Kauffman Stadium

The food offerings at Kauffman Stadium aren’t quite as adventurous as we expected, but most of Kansas City’s greatest hits are represented, from brisket and pulled pork sandwiches (and tacos!) to fried chicken sandwiches to kielbasas.

The stadium also offers a “budget buys” menu that includes hot dogs for $4 and popcorn and pretzels for $3.

On the outfield concourse, in right field, you can also find the Rivals restaurant that serves gastropub-type fare, and the Blue Moon Taproom, where you can sit and enjoy an adult beverage while watching the game from patio-style seating.

Beer selection around the park includes pours from locally based Boulevard Brewing Company; you can also get a Royals-blue colored frozen margarita.

Kauffman Stadium bag and food policy

Per policy , approved bags for entry into Kauffman Stadium must measure 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches or smaller, must be single-compartment, and must be clear, like those permitted in NFL stadiums. Small, non-clear clutch bags no larger than 9 inches by 5 inches are also allowed.

Large bags such as backpacks, suitcases and purses are forbidden at Kauffman Stadium, per stadium policy.

Outside food is permitted at Kauffman Stadium, as long as items are individually portioned and contained inside a plastic bag no larger than one gallon in size. Fans can also bring in one factory-sealed water bottle, one liter or smaller, and unfrozen.

Bags will be inspected by security at the entry gates to Kauffman Stadium, and patrons carrying any bags that don’t comply with stadium policy will be denied entry.

Original publish date:  February 4, 2016 Most recent update: February 18, 2024

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Address 1 Royal Way Kansas City, MO 64141

Year Opened 1973

Capacity 37,903

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Give the Gift of KC's beautiful fountains

Kauffman Stadium Water Spectacular

Published by Lori Ventura on February 22, 2022 February 22, 2022

Kansas City is so lucky to have the Kauffman Stadium Water Spectacular!

Great news! After beginning the 2021 MLB season with limited capacity, Kauffman Stadium is now operating at 100% capacity!  This means that over 37,000 fans get to experience the largest privately owned fountain in the United States – the Kauffman “Water Spectacular”.

This infamous fountain at Kauffman Stadium has a history that includes a “just draw it on a napkin” Eureka moment, an All-Star Game design consideration, and a massive system of obscured-from-fans-view rooms underneath the stadium.

The Road to a New Stadium

In 1966, there were 2 sports franchises in Kansas City, the Kansas City Chiefs, owned by Lamar Hunt, and the Kansas City Athletics, owned by Charles Finley.  Both teams played in Municipal Stadium at the time, but the AFL-NFL merger that same year required all football stadiums to have a minimum capacity of 50,000 fans. Since Municipal Stadium could not be expanded to meet the new guidelines, a new plan was set in motion to build a stadium that would house both KC professional teams.  Governor Warren Hearnes appointed a 5-person team to the newly formed Jackson County Sports Authority.  Their responsibility was to plan, operate and maintain a new sports complex. Finley refused to discuss the matter with the Sports Authority and Hunt, expressed extreme reluctance to sharing a stadium with a baseball club, stating that the teams each had different needs. Finley, eventually moved the Athletics to Oakland in 1967, but Hunt kept the idea alive, adding that instead of one stadium, why not build two stadiums, one for each team, and create a sports complex? And to sweeten the pot?  Hunt promised a multi-million investment of his own money, and the future of Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums was solidified.

Meanwhile, the Jackson County Sports Authority laid two options on the table for the site of the new stadium; downtown, which badly needed some economic revitalization, and an area called Leeds , located in eastern Jackson County. The downtown choice was carefully studied, but the cost of new parking structures, land acquisition, and the need to centrally serve all of Jackson County, including Independence and Raytown, doomed the idea. The Leeds area, due to its large land size and centrally located eventually won the spot.

The Kansas City Royals came to Kansas City during an MLB expansion in 1969 and was bought by Ewing Kauffman, who wholeheartedly supported the two-stadium sports complex idea.  Together, with Hunt, they signed a 25-year lease agreement with the sports authority and building proceeded.

The Design of the Fountain

A Kansas City architecture firm came up with the overall $43M design of the sports complex with its circular spiraling walkways and minimal use of supporting columns and piers. “Arrowhead” was christened in reference to the Indian theme of the Chiefs football team and “Royals Stadium” was named in reference to its tenants.  The entire sports complex played homage to former President Harry S. Truman by naming it the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex. Construction began in 1969 and finished up for the 1972 NFL Season for the Chiefs and the Royals moved in their new home in 1973.

Ewing Kauffman promised that that new Royals Stadium be THE leading edge of all American baseball stadiums and set to work finding the right design elements. These elements incorporated two distinctive features; a massive electronic programmable scoreboard and an enormous water feature.

How the scoreboard influenced the fountain display

The scoreboard’s Initial design, by Arnold Holt, a Chicago architect, included the shape of the Royals logo, a royal crown, and 3 advertising panels set into the scoreboard crown. Kauffman believed that the panels distracted from the board’s overall design.  Holt’s second attempt moved the panels to the ground level set into rectangular boxes to the right of the scoreboard. As an afterthought, a single column of water was drawn behind each of the panels. Kauffman’s mind went immediately to the potential for a magnificent water display and sent Holt back to the drawing board for a third time. However, a hastily drawn sketch on a napkin during a strategy session with principal stadium consultant Kenneth von Achen won Kauffman’s approval.  The Royals Stadium Water Spectacular was underway! Today, stadium fans and viewers from across the country have viewed these spectacular fountains on television, and since a half-million gallons of water flows through the pipes during each game multiplied by 81 home games and then multiplied again by 48 years of their existence…well, that’s a whole lot of water!

Interesting quick facts about the Water Spectacular

Fountain construction budget:.

• Initially estimated at $150K – $250K, but overbudget caused Kauffman to invest over $1.5 M of his own money

Fountain designers came from the USA and Canada:

• Anthony Mifsud, the owner of Canal Electric Motors and who designed the water displays of the 1964 New York’s World Fair was commissioned to design the fountain elements including the programmed cycles of action
• Peter Micha, the owner of Pem Fountain Company of Ontario, Canada was commissioned to develop the hydraulic and electronic controls and, also supplied the equipment

The shape of the fountain:

• The 322′ wide fountain wall follows the natural curve of the outfield wall and is composed of wings on each side of the scoreboard. Interestingly, the wings are not symmetrical in size with the east wing being considerably shorter. This is due to the Sports Authority’s anticipated event of hosting the 1973 All-Star Game and the space was earmarked for extra bleacher seating.

Fountain design – 2 tiers and a basin:

• The highest tier produces 70’ jet sprays which cascade 10’ down to the second tier
• The second tier produces its own jet sprays which again cascade down another 10’ to a retaining basin that recirculates the water
• The basin creates a cascading effect from 5 cuts in the walls in between the advertising panels

Programming of the Water Spectacular:

• 8 programmed “shows” with over 150 combinations of effects

• 600 nozzles with most of the nozzle heads built on a track which creates both bubbler and jet patterns, with others arranged in clusters to produce water castles, while still others are set at an angle to produce a water fingers pattern

Amount of water flow:

• One-half million gallons of water to fill the basins that can also be thrust upwards at any one time

The Pump Room:

• Underneath the stadium is a large maze of pipes, a road map of electronic circuitry, and 10 pumps. A central control board controls the series of water displays with 3 ancillary control rooms dispersed throughout the stadium
• Homeruns get their own special sequence of sprays; reportedly the only one of its kind. The pipe, which is bent at a right angle, produces a column of water that when rotated, creates a spiraling effect similar to a fireworks display
• 600 quartz lamps which add another visual dimension for night games with a variety of colors producing another level of awe-inspiring display

Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, affectionally known as the “K”, is one-of-a-kind in the nation of ballparks.  Next time you catch a game at the stadium or watch one on television, make sure to check out the fountain…well, you really can’t miss them, can you?

Lori Ventura

Lori Ventura is a website developer and a small business entrepreneur. She is a proud resident of her beloved Kansas City, actively promotes local small businesses and a super-fan of the glorious fountains that embody the spirit and beauty of Kansas City.

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Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, right, R-Andover, speaks during a news conference with other Republican leaders, with House Speaker Dan Hawkins, left, R-Wichita, watching, following the Legislature’s adjournment of its annual session, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Some lawmakers hope to lure the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals to Kansas with a plan to help them finance new stadiums. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City’s two biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border. But an effort to help the Super Bowl champion Chiefs and Major League Baseball’s Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas fizzed over concerns about how it might look to taxpayers.

Members of the Republican-controlled Legislature pushed a bill Tuesday that would have allowed Kansas officials to authorize at least $1 billion in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium, paying the debt off with tax revenues generated in the area over 30 years. But GOP leaders didn’t bring it up for a vote before lawmakers adjourned their annual session early Wednesday.

Some critics derided the plan as corporate welfare. Others were receptive but didn’t want to pass the proposal until the Legislature approved a broad package of tax cuts for their constituents that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would sign — which didn’t happen either.

Legislators’ work on a plan began in earnest behind the scenes after voters on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area decisively refused earlier this month to extend a local sales tax used to keep up the complex housing the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium and the Royals’ Kauffman Stadium for more than 50 years.

The bill’s biggest champion, Kansas House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican, said supporters want to give the two professional sports teams another option should they contemplate leaving Kansas City, which he said would be devastating to both states.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Tarwater said. “We need them to stay in the metroplex.”

The idea isn’t dead yet.

Kelly and her staff signaled Tuesday that she is likely to veto the last tax package lawmakers approved, cutting income, sales and property taxes by a total of almost $1.5 billion over the next three years. Lawmakers expect Kelly to call a special session of the Legislature to try to get lawmakers to pass a tax plan that she’ll accept — and they could consider the stadium financing proposal then.

“We just need a little time on it — we’ll be OK,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita Republican. “I mean, we’re serious about trying to incentivize the Chiefs to come our direction.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told KSHB-TV in Kansas City on Tuesday that his administration would do everything that it can to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. His state’s lawmakers are in session through May 17.

“We got time to try to work on some ways to try to see what we can do to help with keeping them here, and that’s our main goal,” Parson said.

The Kansas proposal would allow the bonds to finance 100% of the construction of each of two new professional sports stadiums with at least 30,000 seats. State and local officials would have a year to sign off, and the teams would be on the hook if local tax revenues weren’t enough to pay off the bonds.

“It was just a concern of running it before we gave real tax relief to our constituents — kind of that juxtaposed look of what appears to be corporate welfare before you’re getting tax relief to the people,” Masterson said after deciding against having a Senate vote.

Before the local sales tax vote in Missouri, the Chiefs wanted to use their share of the revenues to help pay for an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead. The Royals planned to use their share to help finance a new, $2 billion-plus ballpark district that would be part of a larger nationwide wave of sports construction.

The current lease lease on the two teams’ complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. Royals owner John Sherman has said the Royals will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.

“We’ll be in a situation where we go back to the drawing board,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told reporters last week. “I do feel very much a sense of urgency, and we will approach it from a broader perspective going forward.”

Backers argue that the Kansas plan is ideal because the money to pay off the bonds would come from new sales and alcohol taxes generated only when the area around each stadium develops. Also, professional players will have to pay income taxes to Kansas on the portion of their earnings made at the stadiums in Kansas.

But Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, a small-government, low-tax group that has long opposed the use of such bonds, also opposed the stadium financing proposal. The group is influential with Republicans and told lawmakers it would consider their votes in evaluating their records.

Critics have long argued that allowing the bonds to finance big projects represents the state picking economic winners and losers instead of the free market. The same kind of bonds have financed multiple projects, including NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

One northeastern Kansas lawmaker, Democratic Sen. Tom Holland, called the stadium proposal “economic development for millionaires.” He added that it’s “total foolishness” to have taxpayers subsidize the stadiums — either through taxes they pay when they visit or because the state forgoes revenues that would flow into its coffers.

Another northeastern Kansas lawmaker, conservative GOP Sen. Dennis Pyle, said: “We’ve got a lot of priorities in Kansas, and I’m not sure that’s one of them.”

Other lawmakers were critical because the Legislature had no public hearings or debates before three senators and three House members met in public this week to hash out the details of the proposal.

“As much as I would love to see the Chiefs and the Royals both come to Kansas, this is a very large expenditure of tax money that merits careful consideration, not a last minute scheme,” said Democratic state Rep. John Carmichael, of Wichita.

Skretta reported from Kansas City, Missouri.

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Live Updates: Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels (Game Two)

Will miller | 7 hours ago.

• Kansas City Royals
• Los Angeles Angels

For the surging Kansas City Royals, winners of six of 10 and now sitting at 23-16 on the season, Thursday was a successful start to a four-game road set in Anaheim. The Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels (14-24) in a 10-4 game at Angel Stadium.

Friday night's contest, set for a late 8:38 p.m. CT start, will not decide the series even if the Royals win again; if that happens, the best the Angels will be able to do is secure a split by taking the last two. It's been a rough go for the Halos to start the first season of the Ron Washington era. Kansas City, meanwhile, is still fresh off winning two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Friday's game will be available to watch on Apple TV+, as has become customary for select Friday night games across Major League Baseball. Pitching for the visitors will be Alec Marsh, who enters the contest as another positive mark on the Royals' starting pitching thus far. He holds a 3-0 record and 2.70 earned run average in five games (five starts). He's thrown 26.2 innings.

The Angels are trotting out right-hander Griffin Canning, who's 1-4 in seven starts with an ERA approaching seven. He has 26 strikeouts in 35 innings. Marsh has 26.2 innings on his ledger.

Live Updates (Most recent at top):

Ninth Inning:

• Zach Neto grounds out, and the comeback is complete. The Royals beat the Angels, 2-1, winning in Anaheim for the second night in a row. FINAL: Royals 2, Angels 1.
• Adell grounds out, but pinch runner Kyren Paris moves to third base. The tying run is 90 feet away. One more out to get for the Royals.
• Matt Thaiss doubles with one out, bringing the tying run into scoring position and the winning run to the plate.
• John Schreiber will be the man tasked with closing this game out for Kansas City in the bottom of the ninth.
• Maikel Garcia goes down on strikes to end the top of the ninth, but now it's Los Angeles facing last call with Goodrum, Thaiss and Adell coming to bat. Adell hit the home run which gave the Angels their only score of the night back in inning number five. Royals 2, Angels 1.
• Ground rule double for Nelson Velazquez with two outs, and the Angels now have to deal with another man in scoring position after losing the lead on one swing.
• Adam Frazier breaks through, sending a two-run home run out of Angel Stadium for the lead. Estevez blows the save. Royals 2, Angels 1.
• Melendez singles with one gone, putting the tying run aboard. He has a three-hit night. Garrett Hampson will run for him.
• Massey pops one to Thaiss in foul ground. One away.
• The Angels will go with 2023 All-Star closer Carlos Estevez to shut the door on this one. Massey, Melendez and Frazier will bat first.

Eighth Inning:

• Duffey holds serve in the home eighth, and the visiting Royals will have their last call in the next half-inning. Angels 1, Royals 0 with one regulation inning to go.
• Tyler Duffey is the new pitcher for Kansas City. Perhaps Will Smith is being saved for a future game in this series, though that may not necessarily be the case in a 1-0 game.
• Perez flies out, and it's an easy inning for Garcia, who sends the visitors back to the dugout in order in the eighth. Not a great night for the Royals' bats all around. Moniak, Ward and Calhoun will be first to the plate in the home half.
• Luis Garcia replaces Matt Moore on the mound for the Angels. His first three Kansas City batters will be Witt Jr., Pasquantino and Perez.

Seventh Inning:

• Smith sits the Angels down in order, and we go to the final two regulation innings. The score remains Angels 1, Royals 0.
• Will Smith comes on in relief of Stratton for the Royals in the bottom of the seventh. He'll face Neto, Guillorme and Schnauel to start.
• Leadoff hitter Garcia flies out to right. Angels keep the Royals off the board once again.
• Velazquez walks. Two on, two out for Kansas City in the top of the inning.
• Nelson Velazquez is in to pinch hit for Kyle Isbel.
• Adam Frazier hits a one-out single, then advances to second on a wild pitch from Moore. The tying run is in scoring position.
• Matt Moore will replace Adam Cimber on the hill for Los Angeles.

Sixth Inning:

• A Jo Adell strikeout strands runners on second and third, bringing an end to the sixth inning and an Angels opportunity. Chris Stratton came into the game to pitch for Marsh, who finishes with a line of 5.1 innings.
• Cimber gets Massey to strike out swinging, ending one of the biggest Royals threats of the night. Halfway through six, it's still Angels 1, Royals 0.
• Adam Cimber is now pitching for the Angels. Canning exits after 5.2 innings. There aren't any runs on the board for Kansas City yet, but the runners on first and second are his responsibility.
• Perez walks after a nine-pitch turn at the plate. Two on for Michael Massey.
• Vinnie Pasquantino hits a double down the line in right with two out. Perez coming up with an opportunity to tie the game.
• The top of the Royals order will bat first in the sixth.

Fifth Inning:

• Marsh strikes out Moniak swinging, and the Adell home run is all Los Angeles gets in the home fifth.
• Schnauel grounds out, but Neto moves to third. Two away. Big spot for Marsh here, facing Mickey Moniak.
• Zach Neto gets aboard thanks to Marsh's second throwing error of the night. He then steals second.
• Jo Adell hits a solo home run to center, his sixth of the season, breaking the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Angels 1, Royals 0.
• Kyle Isbel grounds out to second base, and Canning wiggles out of it. Bottom of the Angels' order due up in the next frame.
• The Royals have a pair of baserunners on in the fifth with one away. Melendez singles, and Frazier walks. The most offense in a single frame so far tonight for Kansas City.

Fourth Inning:

• A swinging strikeout for Matt Thaiss puts the home half of the inning to bed. Still a scoreless game.
• Canning retires the side in order in the top half of the fourth. It's still somewhat early, but he's working a strong outing.

Third Inning:

• No score for Los Angeles in the inning after a side-retiring double play. Once again, Marsh escapes.
• Three up, three down for Kansas City in the visiting third. Quick work for Canning so far.

Second Inning:

• Marsh strikes out three in a row to end the inning, bringing him to four on the night. He escapes the small jam. On to the third inning with both sides scoreless.
• Leadoff baserunner for the Angels in the bottom half as Niko Goodrum reaches on a throwing error by Marsh. He then steals second.
• Canning gets Adam Frazier to fly out to end the early threat. The game remains scoreless heading into the bottom of the second.
• MJ Melendez triples with two away in the top of the second, making him the first Royals baserunner of the game, and first to be in scoring position.

First Inning:

• Willie Calhoun pops out to bring an end to the opening inning.
• Taylor Ward hits a two-out single, and he's the first baserunner of the night.
• Down in order go the Royals in the first frame to open up the contest. An economic start to the night for Canning. Angels will bat for the first time this evening next.
• First pitch at 8:38 CT is a called strike to Garcia.
• Los Angeles lineup: 1. Nolan Schnauel, first base; 2. Mickey Moniak, center field; 3. Taylor Ward, left field; 4. Willie Calhoun, designated hitter; 5. Niko Goodrum (third base); 6. Matt Thaiss (catcher); 7. Jo Adell, right field; 8. Zach Neto, shortstop; 9. Luis Guillorme, second base; P: Griffin Canning (RHP)
• Kansas City lineup: 1. Maikel Garcia, third base; 2. Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop; 3. Vinnie Pasquantino, first base; 4. Salvador Perez, catcher; 5. Michael Massey, second base; 6. MJ Melendez, left field; 7. Adam Frazier, designated hitter; 8. Dairon Blanco, right field; 9. Kyle Isbel, center field; P: Alec Marsh (RHP)

WILL MILLER