MLB Facility Notes: Kauffman Stadium Boosts New Bar, Party Deck

The Royals' new Rivals Sports Bar at Kauffman Stadium will debut this season and will be open two hours prior to the gates opening for Friday and Saturday games and one hour prior to the gates opening Sunday-Thursday. The bar will be open on a first-come, first-served basis to any fan with a game ticket, but fans also can purchase a Rivals table package, which includes seats for four at a window-side table overlooking the field as well as a credit for food and beverage purchases. FS K.C. will broadcast its "Royals Live" pre- and post-game shows from a set inside the bar. Meanwhile, the team's Bud Light Party Deck, a new rooftop group party deck atop the Rivals Sports Bar, will accommodate private parties of up to 200 people (Royals).

HITTING IN THE CLUTCH: In Columbus, Barbara Carmen noted the Triple-A Int'l League Columbus Clippers' Huntington Park, which is set to open April 18, is "almost a sellout -- for sponsorships." Huntington Park had "promised to raise $37[M] from private sponsors," but the ballpark BOD has already "nailed down $39.6[M] in corporate money for naming rights and is negotiating deals worth an additional" $9M. Ballpark sponsors include Huntington National Bank at $12M and The Dispatch Printing Company at $6M (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 3/15).

SWING AND A MISS: The L.A. BUSINESS JOURNAL's David Nusbaum notes the Dodgers have "struck out in an attempt to generate sponsorship revenue" at their Camelback Ranch Spring Training facility. The venue has "unsuccessfully offered nine unique sponsorships." Camelback LLC VP/Operations Greg Corns: "We added elements that would make it more valuable, but it didn't appeal to any sponsors" (L.A. BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/16 issue).