What is the seating capacity of Kauffman Stadium?

Kauffman Stadium seats 37,903 fans after the $250 million renovation completed in 2009. The original capacity was 40,625 when the park opened as Royals Stadium in 1973. Designed by Kivett and Myers, it is the sixth-oldest active MLB ballpark.

Where is Kauffman Stadium located?

Kauffman Stadium is at 1 Royal Way in Kansas City, Missouri 64129. It sits in the Truman Sports Complex alongside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (home of the Chiefs), about 8 miles east of downtown Kansas City off I-70.

What are the famous fountains at Kauffman Stadium?

The Water Spectacular is a 322-foot-wide fountain and waterfall display beyond right field that shoots water up to 70 feet high. It is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. Owner Ewing Kauffman personally funded the cost overruns when the project exceeded its original budget by over $1.2 million.

How do I get to Kauffman Stadium by public transit?

RideKC Route 47-Broadway runs along Blue Ridge Cutoff with stops near the stadium seven days a week. After 6 PM, service is hourly. The KC Streetcar serves downtown but does not extend to the stadium. Most fans drive or use rideshare.

Are the Royals leaving Kauffman Stadium?

The Royals' lease runs through the 2030 season. Owner John Sherman announced in November 2022 that the team plans to leave before the lease expires. A new downtown ballpark near Washington Square Park is under active negotiation as of early 2026, but no construction has begun.

Has Kauffman Stadium hosted a World Series?

Yes. Kauffman hosted World Series games in 1980 (Royals vs. Phillies, won in 6), 1985 (Royals vs. Cardinals, won in 7), 2014 (Royals vs. Giants, lost in 7), and 2015 (Royals vs. Mets, won in 5). The 2015 championship was the franchise's most recent title.

Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City MO - Capacity, History & Complete Visitor Guide

Q: How far is the airport from Kauffman Stadium?

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is 31 miles northwest, about 25-35 minutes by car. MCI is the region's primary airport with service from major carriers. Rideshare runs $35-$55 depending on demand.

About Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium sits in the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City — a 37,903-seat ballpark where the Royals play baseball, where the largest privately funded fountain in the world erupts beyond right field, and where two World Series championships have been celebrated on the same grass where Nolan Ryan threw the first of his seven career no-hitters. Kansas City calls it “The K,” and has since 1973.

The stadium opened as Royals Stadium on April 10, 1973, purpose-built exclusively for baseball during an era when every other city was building cookie-cutter multi-purpose stadiums. Designed by Kivett and Myers with Charles Deaton as design associate, it was a modernist outlier — its sweeping bowl, lack of enclosed upper deck, and the Water Spectacular fountain display made it unlike anything in the sport. It was renamed Kauffman Stadium in 1993 in honour of founding owner Ewing Kauffman.

The Water Spectacular is the signature. A 322-foot-wide fountain and waterfall display beyond the right-field fence shoots water jets up to 70 feet high. Kauffman personally funded the cost overruns when the project blew past its budget by over $1.2 million — because the fountains had to be right, and Kansas City is the City of Fountains.

A $250 million renovation completed in 2009 modernised the facility without destroying its character — new concourses, the Royals Hall of Fame, updated premium seating, and the CrownVision video board. At 53 years old, The K remains the sixth-oldest active ballpark in MLB, and its future is uncertain as the Royals negotiate a new downtown stadium.

Getting to Kauffman Stadium

Public Transit

Kauffman Stadium has limited transit options. The KC Streetcar serves downtown but does not extend to the Truman Sports Complex.

→ Via RideKC Route 47-Broadway: Bus service along Blue Ridge Cutoff with stops near the stadium, seven days a week. After 6 PM, service is hourly. Last westbound bus departs at 11:15 PM on weekdays, 11:17 PM on Saturdays. Sunday service runs until 8:30 PM.

Most fans drive. The Route 47 bus is functional for day games but the hourly evening schedule makes it impractical for most night games. Rideshare is the better alternative if you’re not driving.

Driving + Parking

The stadium address is 1 Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129. I-70 is the primary approach.

→ From Downtown KC (~8 mi): I-70 East to the Truman Sports Complex exits. About 15–20 minutes.

→ From St. Louis (~250 mi): I-70 West. About 3 hours 45 minutes.

→ From Omaha (~185 mi): I-29 South to I-70 East. About 2 hours 50 minutes.

General parking is $21 (advance purchase required via MLB Ballpark app). Reserved parking is $36. Tailgating is permitted in Lot N, Royal Way, and the Hall of Fame Village. Lot H is the designated Tailgate Lot — arrive early on weekends. All parking is cashless. Lots close one hour after the game ends.

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft drop off at Stadium Gates B or D before games. Post-game pickup is in the middle of Lot A. From downtown KC, expect $15–$25. From MCI airport, $35–$55. Post-game surge is moderate — the walk to Lot A takes 5–10 minutes.

From the Airport

→ Kansas City International Airport (MCI): 31 miles northwest, about 25–35 minutes by car. MCI is the region’s primary airport with service from major domestic carriers. Rideshare runs $35–$55. No direct transit connection to the stadium.

History of Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium broke ground on July 11, 1968, as part of the Truman Sports Complex alongside Arrowhead Stadium. The $70 million project was designed as a baseball-only venue at a time when most cities were building multi-purpose stadiums — a decision that gave The K its distinctive character.

First Game (April 10, 1973): The Royals hosted the Texas Rangers in the inaugural game at Royals Stadium. Just five weeks later, Nolan Ryan threw the first of his seven career no-hitters here on May 15, 1973 — in only the 20th game played at the ballpark.

First All-Star Game (July 24, 1973): The stadium hosted the Midsummer Classic just 3.5 months after opening — one of the fastest turnarounds from opening to All-Star hosting in MLB history. A second All-Star Game followed in 2012.

1985 World Series (October 1985): The Royals defeated the Cardinals in seven games in the “I-70 Series” — the first and only all-Missouri World Series. The championship defined the franchise for a generation.

$250 Million Renovation (2007–2009): A complete modernisation that added the Royals Hall of Fame, new concourses, the CrownVision video board, and premium seating while preserving the stadium’s original character and iconic fountains.

2015 World Series (October–November 2015): The Royals defeated the New York Mets in five games to win their second championship — 30 years after the first. The celebration on the Kauffman Stadium diamond was Kansas City’s greatest sporting moment in a generation.

From the Water Spectacular to Nolan Ryan’s first no-hitter to the 2015 championship, Kauffman Stadium is where Kansas City baseball lives — a purpose-built classic that outlasted the cookie-cutter era and may be approaching the end of its run as the Royals look downtown.