The rivalry between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals is nicknamed the Show-Me Series due to both teams residing in the state of Missouri. The two teams have been playing annually since Interleague Play was introduced in 1997. However, the biggest matchup between the two took place when the two played in the 1985 World Series, which went to seven games.There are always lots of fans of both teams at these games, so don’t miss it when the Cardinals come to town.
Kansas City is only a bit over six hours away from the Twin Cities, so many Twins fans will make the trip to Kauffman Stadium. Additionally, there isn’t a ton of animosity between the two fan bases, so you’ll get enjoy a friendly albeit competitive atmosphere when attending a Royals-Twins game.
While the Royals and White Sox haven’t been good at the same time recently, there is still plenty of bad blood between these two AL Central rivals. The two teams have gotten in several physical altercations over the years with the most recent taking the form of a benches-clearing brawl in 2015. Royals-White Sox games are always intense regardless of the standings, so keep an eye on the schedule for when the Sox and Royals meet.
Kansas City Royals Tailgate Guide
Atmosphere
When attending a Royals spring training game, there is a lot to see and do outside the ballpark. Surprise Stadium is located on the Surprise Recreation Campus, and as a result, you’ll find a lot of local recreation buildings here as well as the Royals practice facilities. If you enjoy swimming, tennis, or reading get here early and enjoy the aquatic center, tennis complex, or public library before the game.
Those of you who are looking more for baseball-related entertainment will also want to get to the ballpark early. The Royals practices are open to the public throughout spring training and start and 9:30 am, so get to the park early to catch your favorite players warm up before the season.
Finally, parking is free giving you no excuse not to get to Surprise Stadium early and make a day of it when attending Royals spring training.
You’ll find tons to see and do before even entering Surprise Stadium to watch the Royals play, so make sure to get to the ballpark bright and early.
Royals practices open at 9:30 am and are a fantastic experience for any die-hard fan as they offer you the opportunity to get an up-close look at all your favorite players. If you’re attending Royals practice, make sure to park in the main stadium parking lot.
Surprise Stadium is located on the Surprise Recreation Campus, which is also home to the community's regional library, tennis complex, and aquatic center. Stop by and check out any of these recreation services to make the most out of your trip to Surprise, Arizona.
Free ParkingYou’ll find free parking at Surprise Stadium in the paved and grass lots behind left field as well as the lots across the street at the aquatic center.
Kansas City Royals Stadium Guide
In Game
Spring Training is a great time to come out to see your favorite team get ready for the season, and it’s no different in Surprise, Arizona. Surprise Stadium is the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers as well as a fantastic place to watch some spring baseball. You’ll have a lot of fun attending a game here as not only will you get to see your favorite players on the field you’ll get to see them on the concourse as well. One of the coolest features of Surprise Stadium is the fact both teams having batting cages on the concourse where you can see your favorite players perform a variety of hitting drills.
In addition to the ability to see your favorite players on the field and in the cage, you’ll also see excellent tributes to both the Royals and Rangers greatest players around the ballpark. The concourse is filled with plaques dedicated to the best players and managers in both teams’ histories, so take a stroll around the ballpark before the game to see them all.
Lastly, those of you who are looking for an all-inclusive experience will find it at the Party Pavilion in right-center field. Here you’ll enjoy a catered meal as well as an incredible view of the action for only $30.
A trip to Surprise is an excellent experience for any die-hard Royals fan, so start planning your trip today.
Unlike most teams, the Royals don’t take batting practice in the stadium, making it a bit difficult to get autographs before the game. However, if you want to get a few signatures make your way to Sections 113-118 as a fair amount of players will sign autographs near the dugout before the game. Players will also sometimes sign autographs on their way to the clubhouse after leaving the game. To get autographs from these players, the best place to be is in Sections 121 and 123.
Make sure to check out the Hall of Fame plaques along the covered part of the main concourse. The plaques celebrate both the Royals and Rangers award winners from over the years, so don’t miss them during your trip to Surprise Stadium.
Catch your favorite Royals hitting in the batting cages on the concourse during the game. The cages are located behind a food court on the third base side of the ballpark, and are a can’t-miss for die-hard Royals fans.
Take a stroll around the concourse to see signs filled with famous baseball quotes. Quotes from Babe Ruth, George Brett, Humphrey Bogart, and more are all around the concourse, so take a few minutes to see them all before the game.
For $30, you can enjoy watching a game from the Party Pavilion in right-center field. The Party Pavilion features HDTVs and a catered meal, making it one of the best places to take in the game.
Stop by The Sport Shop in center field or behind home plate to pick up some Royals or Rangers gear. The store behind home plate is a bit bigger. However, you’ll find an excellent selection of team and ballpark merchandise at both locations.
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