Increasing costs for fans is one of the worst trends affecting all professional sports. Whether it be parking, tickets, or merchandise, there are several ways a sports team can milk paying fans for money. The KC Royals are not an exception to the rule, but MLB teams have a thin line between exploiting fans or giving them a good deal. Promotions and great matchups will get fans through the gate, but how or if they spend money afterward is tough.
Absurd parking fees and overpriced, low-quality Fanatics jerseys in the team store are always under fire. But there are recent changes that help fans visiting Kauffman Stadium save some dough. From my perspective, I can always appreciate it. The cost of attending a game kept me out of any professional stadium until I was an adult. If Kansas City makes small moves that make attending games less of a financial burden, I love it.
In the same vein, not all Royals fans know where and how to save money. Here are some of my favorite deals and how they make a Kauffman Stadium visit even better.
Let’s get this straight: I am a sucker for Dollar Dog Night at any sporting event, but baseball especially. I went to Camden Yards last year for the Royals and Baltimore Orioles series, and a normal, hot-off-the-roller hot dog was $7. That was more than I paid for parking! Yeah, you can be jealous, Kauffman regulars.
In Kansas City, Dollar Dog Night is as simple as it sounds. Every Tuesday home game has $1 hot dogs. Not only is it a ballpark staple, but it is probably the simplest food at any sporting event. I have rushed from work to a baseball game, with no time for food in between. Cheap hot dogs are always my go-to for dinner, albeit an unhealthy one.
Baseball games, from a fan’s perspective, have plenty of pillars, and the hot dog is one. This fan value is very simple and straightforward. On Tuesdays, the Royals host a variety of notable teams, including the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. A cheap way to fill a belly while watching a game is a win in my book.