A little over a month ago our PTA realized we had $3,900 in unspent field trip funds. Due to specific rules binding PTA organizations, we knew we had to spend this money. We decided to put it to a vote—the Kansas City Zoo or the Kansas City Royals. I’m sure you can guess how we voted.
There’s a ton of work that goes into planning an all-school (actually two schools) field trip. To save you time, just know I purchased over 550 tickets and had to transfer about 100 of them to parents via the MLB app. Fun!
Thursday, May 7, 2026 arrives. The weather could not be better. The kids eat breakfast, and we board buses. I transfer parking passes to each bus, so they can get through the gate. I drive myself (cue quiet, peaceful drive), so I can handle any last minute problems and to determine where parents should meet us.
Kaufmann has many entrances. I entered via the George Brett Bridge. As a note for non-Kansas Citians: our football and baseball stadiums are in the same gigantic parking lot. The parking attendants directed me to the Arrowhead parking area, so I walked a fair distance to the Royals gate and waited for the kids to arrive. They parked as close as possible.
Kaufmann Stadium provides fans with a new entry style called Go-Ahead Entry. Basically, I took a picture of myself through the app, and once verified at the stadium all the tickets were authorized, and the kids just walked in. Currently ten ballparks participate in Go-Ahead Entry.
School Day at the K offers many activities for the kids before the game begins. I continued to field parent questions, but our kids had the chance to experience a professional baseball stadium. The Royals provide certificates for first time attendees, and I submitted over 100 names. I’d say 95% of our kids had never been to a game, but not all parents answered our pre-game questions. Otherwise I’d have had about 370 names.
OK…that’s the way I made it to Kaufmann. Now let’s talk about Kaufmann. The Royals have contracted to play at Kaufmann through 2030, and are working to design and build a new downtown stadium.
Opening in 1973, Royals Stadium was renamed Kaufmann Stadium in 1993. This change honored the Royals founder Ewing Kaufmann. The “K” showcases a 322 foot wide water feature that, at one time, had been listed as the world’s largest privately funded fountain.
This waterfall creates a beautiful backdrop for the K’s outfield experience. There’s barbecue, a playground, a mini-sized baseball field, and the Royals Hall of Fame. Kids were crawling everywhere, so I didn’t take photos (keeping kids safe). I do have some family photos from 2018 that I’ll share. (These girls are now a graduating senior, a soon-to-be sophomore, and a future fifth grader).
These letters form the words “Hall of Fame” and welcome you to see memorabilia from the many years of Royals baseball. The Royals began as an expansion team in 1969 and have won two World Series (1985 and 2015).
Near the Hall of Fame, our school’s great friend Trent taught us a little about the fireworks. His area is located inside the Jumbotron and is 12 stories tall.
Trent has no elevator, so when he makes the magic happen, he climbs all the stairs to the top. His fireworks use fuses to ignite, and he has a device that helps him time the release of each firework. Despite us visiting during the day, we still saw fireworks take flight. I enjoyed knowing who set them off.
One final note about the outfield. Statues abound. I only photographed two of them, but they line the park and honor the great people who have provided for the Royals. George Brett likely tops the list.
Before we make it to the field, I want to talk about other areas many of us don’t need. My school has five amazing classrooms with students who have varying degrees of sensory issues. The K provides assistance for them. One way is through their sensory rooms. If someone needs to get inside, an employee will open the door and give your group a private 20 minute break.
I can’t say enough good things about how our students with sensory needs felt. The sensory room had Tetris like pieces the kids could fit together as well as other activities that helped them enjoy the day. One of our kids was outside and the para was trying to go in. They informed her another group was using the area, but immediately allowed her in once they knew she was part of the group. I appreciated how they respected the group inside, allowing them 20 minutes of quiet play time.
When they went to the Junior baseball field (sorry no pictures), the staff let the kids run the bases and play on the field by themselves. The teachers felt such relief knowing their kids could experience a Royals game as they needed.
The Field
The Kansas City Royals employ people who love the Stadium. Every time I go to the K, I’m in awe of the meticulous work they’ve done to showcase our team. I love the patterns created in the grass, and I love watching everyone prepare the field for the players. It always gives me goosebumps.
Much as I would have loved to watch the entire game, our school had to depart early (bus routes dictated our departure). Still, our kids stood for the National Anthem. They watched the Cleveland Guardians score a few runs, and they saw both Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvy Perez take a turn at bat. Our kids cheered and screamed. Later, some wrote me letters to tell me this was the best day of their life. How great it was to be with so many who walked through the Stadium gates for the very first time! To be honest, the day was perfect for baseball!
Reba Roams the World 
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