First MLB Game of the Year...In Review

So I went to my first MLB game of the year this past Saturday. It was actually the second time I've went to a Royals game. The first was last year when I was in town for a campus tour of Midwestern.

I went with a friend from seminary to watch the Royals take on the Minnesota Twins. It was also Powder Blue Jersey Giveaway Night. For those that don't know or remember, the Royals used to wear powder blue jerseys on the road back from about the early 70s until about 1991. It was also during that time that they were really good. So they decided this year to bring them back (a little redesigned) as an alternate home jersey. And to commerate that, they had last Saturday be the debut with the first 20,000 fans getting a free Billy Butler powder blue jersey (he's their designated hitter).

The first pitch was at 6:10pm. We left campus around 3:20pm (it takes roughly 30 minutes to get to the stadium from campus. Now, Kauffman Stadium (known as "The K" to people here) is just outside the city in the same complex as Arrowhead Stadium (where the NFL team, the Chiefs plays). When we got there, we ended parking way on the other side of the complex and walked basically the length of the complex to get to The K. When we got there (around 3:45pm) there were already huge lines of people waiting to get in. The gates were set to open around 4:00 (roughly 2 hours before the game starts). I went over to the box office and stood in a fairly shorter line because I had to pick up the tickets at Will Call. When I finally got to the ticket booth and gave my ID to the lady, I hear this sound from behind me. I knew exactly what happened, they opened the gates. I got the tickets and made my way back to my friend who was already in the big line. After several minutes of marching forward without trying to get run over, we got inside and got the free jerseys. With that out of the way, we were able to go to our seat and relax.

The seats were in the outfield plaza area, basically right near left field by the foul pole. They were good seats. Now, here comes the comparison game. I spent three years in Seattle, so I got spoiled by Safeco Field. Here are some comparisons between the two stadiums (granted one is 30 something years old and is getting renovated as we speak and the other is only like 7 years old):

Safeco Field: in the city so one can find free parking after 6:00pm, food vendors are outside the stadium so one can pick up food on the way to the ballpark, two words: garlic fries, nice comfy seats with cup holders, not a bad view in the stadium

The K: only parking essentially is at the stadium complex, no food vendors outside so you either bring it with you or get it inside, no garlic fries, somewhat cramp seats if the stadium is full, no cup holders, not a bad view in the stadium (that I've noticed so far)

Now that the comparison is out of the way, they are remodeling the stadium with it supposed to be finished by the All-Star break of next year. The one key upgrade they do have in place now is Crown Vision, the huge 90 foot HD video screen they have in center field. I swear that thing is huge. You can see it outside the stadium when you're driving by on the freeway (I-70). That view doesn't do it justice when you're inside. It was simply just huge. So if the rest of the improvements compare with that video screen, it'll be a good thing.

Okay, onto the game. Needless to say, the weather wasn't baseball weather. It was like 40 degrees at first pitch and dropping. It felt more like football weather and I dressed the part as well with several layers of clothing. It ended up being a pitcher's duel and the Royals ended up on the losing end 2-0. There were several things that stood out during the game:

One, Twins fans when they come to Kansas City are a lot more rowdy and antagonsitic than they are when they're in Seattle. Mainly because it's a division rival. There were several fans that were just annoying and it didn't help that there were some Royals fans that were egging them on. Which brings me to...

Two, though the Royals haven't been as good as in the past, they have some rowdy fans. I think it might be that laidback Northwest mentality but Mariners fans aren't as easily beligerant at least when it comes to the other team. They will if pushed far enough, or if it's like the Yankees or the Angels. But otherwise they just cheer for their own team. And it may be it's just because it's a division rival but it seemed Royals fans can get a little rowdy. We'll see how the season goes and if that is a trend or not...

Finally, three, in game entertainment is different between Seattle and K.C. At the game, they had a real easy hat game (you know, ball in hat, follow ball, pick which hat has the ball), a lawnmower race game on the big screen, a way easy trivia game, and one person picked the music for the next inning (kind of like they do in Seattle sometimes, only there it's done by texting on cell phones). They did have two cool things during the game. One was their traditional hot dog race. The other was on the big screen they had Garth Brooks (wearing a powder blue Royals jersey) lead everyone in "Friends in Low Places". I was disappointed that after the 7th inning stretch, there wasn't a fun song played like they do in Seattle (they play Louie, Louie).

Overall, it was fun. I hope to take in a few more games (preferably when the Mariners and Red Sox come to town) but we'll see. Here are some pictures from the game:
















This is the view from my seat looking at the new Crown Vision (the HD video screen)















The grounds crew getting ready to take the tarp off the infield















The Twins warming up pre-game




















Old 80s highlight of Harold Reynolds of the Mariners at the old Kingdome...about to get thrown out at the plate by the great Bo Jackson



















The great Bo Jackson shown on highlights promoting the old Powder Blue jerseys














Royals getting ready for the first pitch in their new Powder Blue uniforms



















The view of Crown Vision during the game. Crazy all the stats they have on that board (the other board that has the out of town scores is on the left field wall, it's a video wall as well)



















The replay of the Hot Dog Race. Mustard took a spill (seen here) as Relish easily took the victory...



















Garth Brooks as he's getting ready to lead the crowd in "Friends in Low Places"
















Royals getting ready for the pitch















The Royals lost...but the fans won a free coke or coffee and a Snickers Bar at Circle K stores because the Royals struck out 6 batters

















Here's me with my new free Royals jersey

So this is my first report from a game. I'll do these every so often on here. It should be fun.