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Royals Exec Says $250M Kauffman Stadium
Renovation Project Is Ahead Of Schedule |
Kauffman Stadium currently is undergoing a "massive facelift that will be mostly finished" by the April 10 Yankees-Royals home opener, and Royals VP/Ballpark Operations & Development Bob Rice said that the $250M project is "actually ahead of schedule," according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com. The ballpark's clubhouses were renovated in '07 and the "huge CrownVision board and new bullpens were in place" for the '08 season, leaving only the last phase of the project. Royals Senior VP/Business Operations Kevin Uhlich said the Royals HOF is the "only exception" to the expected April 10 completion. Kaegel noted the building for the Royals HOF, located beyond left field, "will be finished, but the interactive displays on the upper level will not be completed." There also is a "chance some of the suites directly behind home plate might still need some finishing touches." Since the end of last season, the Rivals Sports Bar beyond right field, which will feature a 100-inch plasma TV, "has risen." Also, in front of the fountains is a "standing-room area for fans wanting a vantage point close [to] the right and center fielders." No seats were installed because there is a "chance that fans will be treated to spray from the fountains if the wind so decides." In left field, there are the "foundations for three rows of new seats in front of the waterfall," and behind the water is the Fountain Pavilion, which offers the "lowest-priced seats at $7 in an area that once was grass." There also will be a bar "handy on the platform that once held the old JumboTron." Behind the outfield seating, there is a "new and bigger Little K for kids adjacent to buildings and space that will be home to an arcade, video batting tunnels, a carousel, a stage and retail outlets." There is "new glass across a revamped Stadium Club which will be about half the original size and will have a higher-end menu for members," and above that, the upper deck concourse has been "widened with updated restrooms and expanded concessions including a food court and even an atrium."
FRONT OF THE HOUSE: The main entrance to the ballpark behind home plate is "getting an all-new look with a glass-enclosed office area that the Royals hope to have operational by March 1." The new Diamond Club behind home plate will feature a "moveable glass wall between the lounge area and the seats," and on either side of the club are twin 1,600-seat areas known as the Dugout Concourse, which are "nearing completion." There also will be 24 luxury suites that "can be bought on a season-ticket basis, 10 party suites, four dugout suites and two 66-seat suites in which season tickets can be purchased in small lots" (MLB.com, 1/7). In K.C., Sam Mellinger reports the Royals are "taking care of the basics," with concourses "about twice as wide, more concession stands, a food court on the view level and 'new bars' on virtually every level." The Stadium Club is "about half as big, in part to accommodate nearly twice as many suites." There will be "more than 30" suites in the club, compared to 19 previously, with "different options to fit different-sized parties." But some of these "won't be ready for the home opener" (K.C. STAR, 1/8).
