Area of fair territory: 110,000 sq. ft.

Area of foul territory: Average

Fences: 8 ft

Elevation: 750 feet

History

   Originally known as Royals Stadium, this ballpark is recognized throughout baseball as one the game's most beautiful.  This is a great park, and one in constant motion - the 30-by-40 foot JumboTron in left (the largest in the United States when installed) lets fans in on the action via close-ups; the 322-foot waterfall beyond the fence in right field  - the largest privately funded waterworks in the world - features lit cascades between innings.  Of the stadium’s 40,625 seats, over half (20,316) are on the lower level of the three-tiered park.

   This stadium has had three no-hitters (including the first of Nolan Ryan's career, on May 15, 1973) and has played host to the 1973 All-Star Game, 1976, '77, '78, '80, '81, '84, and '85 playoff games and seven World Series tilts in 1980 and 1985.  The stadium was renamed in honor of team owner Ewing M. Kauffman on July 2, 1993 - he passed away a month later.

   Kauffman is part of a sports complex that includes Arrowhead Stadium, where the NFL franchise Kansas City Chiefs play.

Playing Field:
   A grass playing field replaced the artificial surface at Kauffman Stadium prior to the 1995 season. The fences were also moved in 10 feet from bullpen to bullpen and lowered from 12 feet to 9 feet.

Analysis

     This park has a reputation among big league hitters for having the best visibility and sightlines in the majors.  Before the fences were moved in and lowered in 1995, Kauffman Stadium had a reputation for being a tough park for hitters.  Although the fences are still a good distance off, and the park has a reputation for still being a tough homer park, the evidence suggests otherwise - since the fences were moved, Kaufmann has played favorable for the long ball and for hits and average.

     A grass playing field replaced the artificial surface at Kauffman Stadium prior to the 1995 season.  

     The spacious outfield results in lots of doubles and triples, and the quirky angles of the outfield wall exacerbate this tendency.  This park probably has the best visibility in the majors for hitters.  When the weather is hot, as it frequently is in the summer, the ball carries exceptionally well, boosting the long ball.

     Right-handed hitters enjoy a slight advantage because of the prevailing winds.

Defense: The grounds crew here has a rep for excellence, and it is well-earned.  The grass is very well-kept, and the ball bounces fair and true.  Errors on the infield due to bad hops are rare to non-existent.  The outfield walls contain slight angles near the foul poles, and the ball can carom away from an inattentive outfielder.  As a result, triples are boosted substantially. 

Who benefits: Power hitters, especially right-handed power hitters.  The park has boosted home run production by about 10% over the last three seasons, while depressing left-handed home run production by 10%.

   The key hitters in the Royals line up - Mike Sweeney, Joe Randa and Carlos Beltran - posted roughly even home-road splits.  Beltran hit .342 at home vs. .274 on the road, but hit 7 homers at home and 17 on the road.  Sweeney and Randa showed virtually no difference between home and road performance.  Brent Mayne, another line drive spray hitter, adapted well after moving over from Colorado, hitting .324 at home and just .242 on the road.

   Hitters who can run with speed can take advantage of the park's tendency to boost triples.  Infielders with fielding problems are protected here by the clean grass.

Who gets hurt: Most pitchers, though finesse pitchers who get a lot of ground balls can benefit.  Bad ball hitters don't benefit from the improved visibility and sightlines here as much as selective hitters.

   Teams with a lack of defensive talent at the corners will make a high number of misplays, allowing the opposition to take extra bases and manufacture runs.

Park Factors

Location

Kansas City, MO: Center field (N), Spectacular Drive, then Interstate 70; third base (W), Lancer Lane, then Dutton Brookfield Drive; home plate (S), Royal Way, then Chiefs Way, Arrowhead Stadium, Raytown Road, and CRI&P Railroad tracks; first base (E), Red Coat Drive, then Blue Ridge Cut-off; Stadium Drive encircles the park.

Seating Chart

Dimensions - History

Foul lines: 330 ft. (1973), 320 ft. (1995), 330 ft. (1999)

Power alleys: 375 ft. (1973), 385 ft. (1990), 375 ft. (1995)

Center field: 410 ft.

Backstop: 60 ft.

Foul territory: small.

Fences - History

1973: 12 ft. - canvas

1995: 8 ft. - canvas

Fun Facts

• Highest batting average and hit factors in AL in 2000 and 2001

• Second highest run factor in AL in 2001

• Third highest run factor in AL in 2000

• Highest LHB batting average factor in AL in 2001

• Lowest LHB HR factor in AL in 2001

• Second lowest walk factor in AL in 2001

• Lowest walk factor in AL in 2000

• Best visibility for hitters in the majors
• Few homers used to be hit here because of deep power alleys and fences that cut away sharply from the 330-foot foul poles.  But the stadium had its fences moved in by 10 feet moved in at the end of the 1995 season.
• Upper-deck fans near foul poles are in relative darkness.