Last year if I had said something about the Royals, many people would have thought that I was speaking about Prince Charles of England and family. This year, it is a different story. The Kansas City Royals baseball club is on a hot streak and in first place in their division.
Thursday afternoon I went to the game. I love the afternoon games. You take a friend from church and watch baseball. It is very relaxing, and no matter who wins, you get to see some great athletes playing a great game.
In the past, it was easy to go to an afternoon game. Tickets were always easy to get, every banker I know had some that were not going to be used if we didn't take them. You drive to the park where you can park where ever you like. Lot A row 5. No problem. There are only 5,000 people at the game. Usually.
Not this year. Not on Thursday. We got to the stadium at 12:45. Plenty of time to get in and sit down. We didn't have tickets, but we were not worried about that. We figured that we would just buy the $7 ticket and wander the park, right? Wrong. The parking lots are full. We have to park in C lot, clear down past Arrowhead. We walk forever. There are people tailgating. We get in the line to buy tickets. 8-10 windows are open and the lines are 10 people deep. It looks like a new Star Wars movie is opening.
When we get up towards the ticket window I can hear the sales person using the phrase "sold out." I almost fell over dead. Sold out baseball game in Kansas City? We must be playing the Cardinals. But that can't be right, there isn't anyone wearing Cardinals gear today.
At the window I am informed that they are sold out of $5, $7 and $10 tickets. The least expensive ticket available is $33. If you want to be in the shade, $36. We buy two tickets. I actually feel good about supporting professional sports in Kansas City, even if our $7 tickets turned into $36 each.
Inside the stadium, the place is packed. It is some kind of "kids day" at the K, but that does not account for the crowd. Late in the game, after the kids are gone, there is still a very large group of people there. I have never heard so much energy in that Stadium. I hope it's aging concrete can stand the strain.
As the game came to an end, and the Royals won, again, I just have one thing to say to the other 20,000 people that were still in the stadium...... where have you been? Where were you last year or the year before that?
I have loved the games for years. The Royals get in first place and suddenly everybody is a baseball fan. Well, it took a long time to get out of the parking lot. Almost as bad as a Chief's game, but all of this is good for Kansas City.
Go Royals. Keep it up. And you new found baseball fans? Stick around. Baseball is a great game even when your team isn't in first place. Life isn't always about who wins and loses. In baseball, and in life itself, the experience itself is worth the price of admission.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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2 comments:
This is my take on the situation: We bought Chiefs season tickets back in 1986--great seats (club level) were available back then because the Chiefs weren't doing well. I hung on to those tickets until last year when those same tickets were going up in price to $300 ea. per game (we had 3 tickets--that's $900 per game). Bye, bye, tickets. Then last year, the Chiefs had one of their worst seasons in history. Ticket prices aren't going to come down, but there are fans out there like me that like to get outside and be a part of an exciting game. Maybe we're not necessarily "fair weather fans", but left overs from another venue. I went to my first Royals game in years last Monday night (Grienke was pitching)and it was awesome. I think the word has gotten around about the changes in the atmophere of Royals stadium (the awesome score board for one) and people are excited about it. PLUS, the Royals are winning--quite a little bonus. I'm still a Chiefs fan and now I'm also a Royals fan. "That's a good thing."
Jeff,
Trey, Jim's cousin, is one fine coach! We knew when he came to town that he would turn the Royals around. Of course, fine players like Grienke are what it is all about. So nice to have the Royals on a winning streak. Can't wait to get out there to the park to see them again.
Oh, by the way, I was just kidding. Trey is not Jim's cousin; we just like to say that he is!!! Ha! I know it's not April Fools Day but Jim was born an April Fool; so maybe that makes this kind of teasing acceptable. :)
M.A.
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