Ewing Kauffman - Kauffman Stadium

Kauffman Stadium

At a time when other cities were building cookie-cutter, multipurpose sports facilities Ewing Kauffman went against the trend to build Royals Stadium, a home for the team that was decades ahead of its time. The stadium was the sole baseball-only facility built in the majors between 1962 and 1991. Fans in one of the sport’s smallest markets responded by filling the stadium, topping the magic two-million attendance mark a total of ten times and seven seasons in a row.

Opened as Royals Stadium on April 10, 1973 as part of the Harry Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. Designed by Kivett and Meyers architects in Kansas City, the Royals' home incorporated the best of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium, with 40,793 seats, all facing second base and arranged in three tiers. A construction strike delayed the opening of the stadium so Kauffman added money to make sure it would open in time for the 1973 season and the 1973 All Star game. The stadium's prominent features include water fountains beyond the outfield fence and a 10-story high scoreboard shaped like the Royals crest, topped by a gold crown. The 322-foot-wide (98 m) water spectacular is the largest privately funded fountain in the world. The stadium featured an artificial turf field but was replaced in 1995 with grass.

Ewing Kauffman made his last public appearance at the stadium on May 23, 1993, when he was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. The facility was officially renamed in honor of Ewing M. Kauffman in a ceremony at the stadium on July 2, 1993 and is the only stadium in the American League named in honor of a person.